Hiking the Enchantments 2002: Exploring

Taking a break during an exploration ramble.

Larry leaning back against a boulder

From our camp, several paths led up to other vistas.

hiking paths through meadow going up to rocks above

This was overlooking Shield Lake and the Edward Mesa.

Larry with lake and distant mesa beyond

From that spot is another good view of Little Annapurna.

Annapurna with other lakes in forground

I climbed the ridge to Prusik Peak.

looking up to a ridge with Larry on top

There were some great rocks to climb on. This one was balanced on three points.

larry standing on a balanced flat rock

In this picture, I am the blue dot with an arm pointing right on the ridge lower left of Prusik.

Larry in distance at base of Prusik Peak

Prusik Peak reflecting in one of the many Enchantment lakes.

reflection of Prusik Peak in water

We went out the other way by Snow Lake. Nada Lake along the way was so perfect here.

pristine lake surrounded by trees and hills

This access to the Enchangments is the longer trail.

standing around car

In the end, getting out was hard ••• and we were glad to be done.

Paul's wife's had a sore knee, so we decided that going out again via Aasgard would not be a good idea because of its steepness. Instead, we went the Icicle Creek way. However, our cars were still at the trailhead for Colchuck.

Rex and I were ahead of the rest of the group. When we got to the Icicle Creek trailhead, I left my pack with Rex, grabbed a bottle of water and started hiking up to the other trailhead. I didn't know how long it would take, but we had to get those cars.

Along the way I passed by some guys doing some rock bouldering. That looked interesting, so I chatted briefly with them. They were super laid-back.

A while later as I walked along the road, they came by in their van and slowed down to talk to me. They asked where I was going and then offered to give me a ride. I piled into the back of the van along with their bouldering crash pads and other stuff. It was a kind of retro hippy vehicle: A fabric was glued to the ceiling that had 4 inch long fringes, swaying with the vehicle. A picture of Bob Marley was on a wall; they said for me to say hi to Bob. :-)

I did not realize how far it was to the trailhead. It was more than the optimistic 5 minutes I was imagining. They took me all the way there and I was very grateful. I got in one of our cars and drove down to the others.