MattBrown Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Trip: Enchantments Traverse Date: 10/6/2007 Trip Report: After a leisurely 10am start from the Stuart Lake trailhead, we just about made it round the Enchantments Traverse before dark. The snow started at around 4000ft, but didn't really get deep until Aasgard pass. In the Enchantments basin itself there was probably 1-2 feet of snow, drifing higher in places and windblown in others, but the trail was packed down enough that we made good time. (colchuck lake pano) We got to Colchuck lake after 1.5 hours (11:30am), and Aasgard pass was looking pretty snowy (see this TR for the story of how that happened). (colchuck lake) Nevertheless there wasn't so much snow that the boulder hopping was a problem. (climbing to aasgard 1) (climbing to aasgard 2) Higher up the snow had drifted pretty deep, and we passed several parties retreating from the white out at the pass. (lots of gold!) (aasgard pass) We got to the top at 1:30pm. It was pretty windy and cold, but as we descended we dropped out of the weather. (prusik peak) Prusik peak emerged to grace our lunch spot by Perfection Lake (2:30pm). (perfection lake) (descending to the lower enchantments) With all this white stuff it might well be the ski season, but still the hiking here was fabulous. (slabs nr lake viviane) The trickiest part of the route was the slabby section just above Lake Viviane (3:20pm). We got down to Snow Lake at 4:10pm. (author + snow creek wall) After a long plod down the Snow Lake trail we made it back to the car at 6:50pm (for a total of 8hrs 50mins). Thx to Rob for meeting us there and insisting that Oktoberfest was the best method of rehydration! Gear Notes: hiking boots, gaiters, took an ice axe but didn't use it. Approach Notes: lots of snow on the trail, but a good boot path at the time of writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fettster Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Nice job getting that done in under 9 hours. You must have cranked right along, especially that long stretch from Snow Lakes. I wish we could've stayed as dry as it looks like you did coming out. On the day we left some fairly nasty sized rocks were getting washed out on the road between Snow and Stuart trailheads. Was the road pretty well cleared up now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canyondweller Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Beautiful pics! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelawgoddess Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 pretty!!! looks like a wonderful little trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBrown Posted October 9, 2007 Author Share Posted October 9, 2007 yeh the plod down from snow lake was kinda long and dull. would have been nice to stay in the gold for longer... no rocks on the icicle creek road that I saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwalker Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 nice one. saw z on the bus, said you guys might be heading up there for the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigSteve Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 How was the descent of upper Trauma Ridge, the section just below the lower basin where you start down towards Snow Lake? Were the rebar footholds and chipped footholds melted out? We were planning to do our annual Enchantments run on Saturday, but I guess we'll be taking boots and gaiters! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBrown Posted October 9, 2007 Author Share Posted October 9, 2007 we did see the chipped footholds. the trickiest section was the snow covered slab directly below the lookout (see photo above). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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