Drew the Enchantments lottery hike

[splitshot]

used to hike it in the 70's and saw no one for days.  even then we had to carry a small camp stove(no fires).   too many people.  mike w

[rosscrazyelk]

I did it four years ago and absolutely loved it. I have not been drawn since.
You say you are going in through the snow lake side? Do you plan on going down Asguard?
If so I would Highly advise not going down Asguard. I would go up that way and down the snow lake trail.
Next time I draw this is my plan of action.
Day 1- Hike to colchuck and stay one night there.
Day 2- fuel up and hike Asguard and find a camp around Inspiration lake.
Day 3- mess around the upper enchantments.
day 4- work my way down to upper snow.
day 5- final trek back to the car.
Good luck take lots of pictures

[Bean Counter]

Its the most unbelievable preteen high lakes area in the State, and maybe the nation, you can day hike into the area but without a permit no overnight camping,  been looking forward to this hike for along time

What is a preteen high lake? 

pristine?

[JimmyHoffa]

Under 13K feet?

[danderson]

  Rosscrazyelk, I am going in the way you described, starting at the Colchuck trail head up Asguard Pass, from there we plan on spending 6 days in the Core Zone exploring/ checking out all the lakes and climbable peaks, a friend of mine recommended we day hike from one of the upper lakes that way we can travel light, hoping to climb Little Annapurna and Dragontail peaks, with a July 9th start date, I have a solar charger so should get some great footage.

[mfswallace]

What happens if you are caught without the permit?

And who's gonna catch you? Is someone really employed to hike around all summer?

[timberghost72]

What happens if you are caught without the permit?

And who's gonna catch you? Is someone really employed to hike around all summer?

Yes, there are rangers and volunteers who hike around those areas quite a bit.

[timberghost72]

I drew eightmile zone permit this year, but I'm going to pass on buying it. Can't see myself spending five days camping in that zone and trying to take day trips to the core zone.

Hopefully next year, I'll draw the core zone.

So if you don't purchase your permit does it go back into the lottery or can you give it to someone to use? Or can you only give it away after you purchase it?

[JimmyHoffa]

What happens if you are caught without the permit?

And who's gonna catch you? Is someone really employed to hike around all summer?

I know that in Olympic they have rangers that do just that kind of stuff.  They come by your tent daily and inspect permits,  food storage, measure fire rings and distance from the river.  They do other things like look for unsafe trails or dangerous animals. 

[ShadowHunter]

From the late 60's until they instituted the permit system, we did the Enchantments and Rat Lakes chain twice a season for a week each trip.  You "may" want to rethink the "camping" in the Upper Enchantments.  The wind can and often does HOWL there.  The lower Enchantments are much more hospitable and it's a very short hike back to the uppers for day hike exploring. 

[Bill W]

One can always hike around before the permits become effective.  It used to be June 15th was the start of the permit season and one could hike around before that without a permit.  Be advised that Aasgard Pass can be a little slippery if it's got snow/ice on it.  I slipped up there and had a fast ride down to the bottom.

[Bean Counter]

You also don't need a permit if you camp outside of the zone. You'll need flashlights on either end and count on a 20 hour day, but we were passed by a few on that very mission.

[swanny]

After spending 4 days up there last year, I would personally say skip hiking down and out via Snow Lake. That was the longest, most boring day of hiking I have ever had. I'd gladly walk down Aasgard and out Colchuck, much more scenic of a trip IMO and you aren't going to miss a thing. Snow Lake is lower, in the trees and lacks any sort of view. The fishing might be okay, but by the time you leave the upper Enchantments you wont be as awed IMO.

Little Annapurna was a great climb and there are plenty of other areas that one could explore up there. If I ever get a permit again for a few days, I know right where I will be going for at least a day hike if not to set up camp for a day or two.

And yea, plenty of goats around.

[ShadowHunter]

I agree that the Snow Lakes trail is long and boring.  That's why we always went in via Colchuck/Aasgard and then out via Toketie Lake or Coney Lake/Cannon Mt.

[danderson]

  I have 6 days so plan on setting up base camp in the upper Enchantments somewhere, probably above Aasgard pass, and day hiking out of the area, will climb as many peaks as possible, from the folks I spoke to that have spent much time up there the camp sites are well established and opportunity's to explore are everywhere, I was planning on exiting through the Snow lake Zone but might just reconsider another option.  I have experienced the Mt goats up high many times in the past before its like they want to climb in to your tent.