The Enchantments

A year ago, I fell in love with the Enchantments-- an Alpine Lakes Wilderness region near Leavenworth, WA.  The area offers an amazing juxtaposition of tropical-colored waters, stark black-and-white granite geology, and rugged mountains, and it's impossible to describe the extensive color combinations and diverse panoramic scenes found within it.  Because it is such a natural treasure, the US Forest Service restricts the number of people who can stay in the Enchantments via a lottery system, and I feel very fortunate that I've been able to backpack into this natural wonderland two years in a row (thanks to Rachel's incredibly good luck!  I have never been awarded a permit myself, even though I've entered the lottery multiple times).  Both trips exposed me to different parts of the alpine basin (we entered and camped at opposite sides of the region) and reminded me of the fact that I don't need to travel far to see some of the world's most spectacular views.

I've struggled with writing an accurate trip report from our backpacking trip two weekends ago, but here are a few highlights with some of the 200+ photos we took throughout the journey:

We powered through the challenging hike-in with our heavy packs.  Although it included many obstacles and steep inclines, it was nothing compared to our scramble up Aasgard Pass last year!

We set-up camp right next to Upper Snow Lake, and Marc's  hammock provided the perfect accessory to go with our "home" for the trip.

We covered a lot of diverse terrain during our explorations, and our brightly colored outdoor apparel often contrasted with the bleak rock faces that surrounded us.

We came across lots of wildlife, including several friendly (luckily, non-aggressive) mountain goats --  as well as deer, marmots, and fish. 

We also ran into a fellow hiker who had the misfortune of injuring her leg while in this remote wilderness.  We watched as the helicopter circled around us, struggling to find the best location from which to rescue her.  (I later read in the local newspaper that she had been airlifted to a hospital and was doing well.  Thank goodness!).

The cold lake water helped soothe aching feet and legs at the end of long days.

My observations about this outdoor kingdom included the following:

The beautiful scenery of the Enchantments ranges from bright wildflowers...

... to austere peaks.

The colors of the waters range from bright greens...

... to teal blues.

                                       

In addition to the numerous lakes, the astounding water features of the area include many natural waterfalls...

... and this crazy man-made drainage created in the 1930's.  It looks like the world's largest fire hose spewing water off the top of a mountain!



Perhaps my favorite images of the Enchantments are the breathtaking, picturesque reflections often displayed on still waters.  It doesn't get more beautiful and peaceful than this!

We celebrated our successful 2013 Enchantments backpacking adventure at the Icicle Creek Brewery in Leavenworth. Unfortunately, it was then back to reality!

We have no plans to return to the Enchantments at any point in the near future, but perhaps these photos and memories will serve as my "happy place" during future times of stress or frustration.  Who could feel upset in such a majestic setting?!