Four years ago, when our group went to The Enchantments, I thought that the hike in and back was the hardest one I have ever done. This year's hike emphasized the truth of that conclusion, and this year will be the last time I attempt it.....just too long, too steep, too treacherous, too rocky, too many roots......yep - too hard.
But the friends were great!
On the way to Leavenworth we stopped for lunch - maybe in Yakima - at a very yummy place and had delicious food
We stayed in this hotel and then walked around the cutie town of Leavenworth and finally ate dinner somewhere.
Finally we're getting serious and are at the trailhead - only eight miles to Snow Lake for our first night.
Up we go
Lunch on the trail
Yes, we're still cute
Nada Lake
Whoops - a goat in view!!
The dam between Snow Lake and Nada Lake was overflowing so our boots tested their waterproofing.
Our first campsite was a terrible one----it felt like the trail was going right thought our site - because, in fact, it was! Bev and her tent were on one side of the trail and the other two tents were on the opposite side. It was challenging for me and Olga as we pitched out tent on quite a slope....our friendship was tested during the night when she kept sliding on top of me.
Here are some campsite photos
Next morning (Wednesday) we headed out early to make the accent to Lake Vivien which begins the enchanting part of this wilderness area. We'd gone, maybe a tenth of a mile, when we came upon a vacant lakeside campsite which did not share any space with strangers. We plopped down our stuff and did a forced marched back to camp and made quick work of changing our spot.
The distance to Lake Vivien is about a mile and a half, but it is almost all bouldering - hand over hand--and remember one must come back down.
And Finally!!!!!-Lake Vivien
Next stop....Lake Perfection. Now, I have already reached perfection (four years ago), and as I was thinking about continuing for another two miles through absolutely fantastic scenery, these lyrics came to my mind
You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You guessed it, I decided to wait in the shade of a scraggly pine as the others crawled to perfection once again. Bev did take a lot of photos which she dropped to me so I'll post some here.
Snow
And Perfection
Goats everywhere!
We headed back down - posing for a photo - everyone is in this photo.
Found a big buck right next to our campsite
and Bev found a moonlit lake when when got up late in the night "to go see a man about a horse"
Next morning we headed down to Nada Lake where we relaxed and spent the night. Some younger people even went swimming.
Friday morning we started out early to try to avoid the sun on the trail.
Lots of goats again
And -- wait for it ----a mama bear and two cubs. The mama is hard to see, but look for the brown spot on the log. The babies-both of them- crawled up a tree and by the time I got to the area, I couldn't see them. The bear story provided lots of talking points.
And we're back to Leavenworth. Went to our favorite hamburger place for some "non trail" food.
I washed my hands before I ate....the trail can be a dirty place.
The burgers were really good!
Five hours later we were back in Oregon City.
The next backpacking adventure will be in two weeks. Bev and Paul and Olga and I will be circumnavigating the Three Sisters. Four nights/five days/48 miles. I've checked - - none of the trails are as steep as those we have just experienced and I hope there are no boulders or tree roots in the middle of the trail.
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