The Enchantments

A beautiful area to hike to and within. Made 10 week-long trips there in the 70's and early 80's. Very fond memories. No lottery back then but it was being impacted by hikers and campers even with special rules in effect. I hope the powers-to-be take tighter control for access. A gem definitely worth saving/restoring...

WA’s Enchantments are threatened by boom in foot traffic

As the chances of winning an overnight permit dwindle to roughly 6%, there's been an "explosion" in hikers attempting the intense 18-mile route in just one day.

www.seattletimes.com

 

[Guy Gregory]

My son-in-law has done this, and my daughter will be doing it. I don't really see the attraction, but they don't seem to understand drinking beer and shooting pool all night, so I guess to each his own. The solution to the "problem" I suppose is 24/7 enforcement of a permit access system to keep the riff-raff out. How much money ya got?

 

[tkww]

I've done it as a day trip from both sides (in and out of the basin, but not through), and did an 3-nighter--all back in the early 90s. Some of my fonder memories. Those pictures horrify me. It looks like our own Everest.

 

[DimeBrite]

Wow! A massive increase in applications. I've gotten permits and camped up there a couple times in years past, and it is an amazing area. It truly is fragile and needs protection though. Somehow the public agencies will need to trim down the number of through hikers, that is nuts.

 

[smc]

Did the Enchantments with my dad in 2016. He was pushing 80 at the time, and it was the last trip like this in his life. Treasured memories we talk about to this day.

 

[Coach Potter]

Did the Enchantments with my dad in 2016. He was pushing 80 at the time, and it was the last trip like this in his life. Treasured memories we talk about to this day.

View attachment 75616


View attachment 75617

Spectacular Photo!

 

[tkww]

Wow! A massive increase in applications. I've gotten permits and camped up there a couple times in years past, and it is an amazing area. It truly is fragile and needs protection though. Somehow the public agencies will need to trim down the number of through hikers, that is nuts.

FB/Insta are going to be the death of any "nice things" we have left.

 

[Porter2]

My son went Saturday and sent me these….Said only saw two others and took a swim in the lake below in photo.

 

[Phil K]

I've been up there a number of times too. My wife and I and FIL who was 76 at the time went in via Aasgard and camped at Gnome Tarn. He took pics while we climbed. I've heard that there are absolute hordes of through hikers there now. I'm glad I saw it way back when. I'm basically a grumpy old man now I guess.

 

[Divad]

Pictures will be shared with ease, plans will be made, others will follow, they'll have kids, be attracted to the PNW beauty, tell stories and an exponential growth takes place. Sprinkle locking people in their houses and closing trailheads for a year or more in the mix.

Unfortunately many wonders of the west are on this fast-track. Maybe we need a massive grizzly bear reintroduction or better yet hybridize them with polar bear for points in stalking human prey.

 

[Chadk]

I drove over Washington Pass this weekend. Never saw it so packed. Every trailhead parking lot was overflowing. Several had cars lined up over a mile along the highway. Blue Lake, Rainy Lake, and a few others. Insanity.

On the flipside, we drove a little further and had our pick of free dispersed camp sites and only saw a few people driving the back roads the whole weekend.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

I drove over Washington Pass this weekend. Never saw it so packed. Every trailhead parking lot was overflowing. Several had cars lined up over a mile along the highway. Blue Lake, Rainy Lake, and a few others. Insanity.

On the flipside, we drove a little further and had our pick of free dispersed camp sites and only saw a few people driving the back roads the whole weekend.

In the 60’s we packed our small hunting group in there with our burro. We had that entire area all to ourselves.

We didn’t know how good we had it, and I’m very grateful to have those memories.

 

[Phil K]

In the 60’s we packed our small hunting group in there with our burro. We had that entire area all to ourselves.

We didn’t know how good we had it, and I’m very grateful to have those memories.

Before the highway went in, right?

The S Buttress of Cutthroat (the prominent face to the N, overlooking the highway between Bridge Creek and the Blue Lake TH) was first climbed by Fred Becky and Claunch Gordon in September 1958 round trip in one long day from the end of the Twisp River Road.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Before the highway went in, right?

The S Buttress of Cutthroat (the prominent face to the N, overlooking the highway between Bridge Creek and the Blue Lake TH) was first climbed by Fred Becky and Claunch Gordon in September 1958 round trip in one long day from the end of the Twisp River Road.

Yes before the hwy.

From the end of the Twisp R road at Gilbert, over Copper Pass then up Bridge Creek was the traditional/easiest route to the area. We also obtained access through the gates at Colonial Creek from the west, and Early Winters on the east while the highway was under construction.

 

[Phil K]

Yes before the hwy.

From the end of the Twisp R road at Gilbert, over Copper Pass then up Bridge Creek was the traditional/easiest route to the area. We also obtained access through the gates at Colonial Creek from the west, and Early Winters on the east while the highway was under construction.

Must have been glorious!

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Must have been glorious!

Glorious solitude. We were truly fortunate.

 

[Dekartes]

Phil - Gnome Tarn is still a good camping spot! Like usual - the hordes stick to the trail and most permit holders camp right next to the trail and complain about the hordes... I had lunch at Gnome Tarn on Saturday and saw not a soul. What a great view from that spot. I fished Shield and then came over the backside next to Dragontail to get there - so didn't see anyone on the way there either. If I would have had a bivy and sleeping bag I may have stayed! It was so nice that day.

 

[Dekartes]

Wish I would have experienced what you all are talking about in the above string.... I have had plenty of solitude, but I feel like I was born 50 years too late. Would have liked to pull Kings out of the Stilly, etc... This area used to be Alaska. Still am grateful for what we have.

 

[Phil K]

Years ago I was in the middle of Shield Lake, floating about on my el-cheapo raft, fishing, and two hikers from the outlet end of the lake called out to me:

”IS THIS SNOW LAKE?”

 

[Dekartes]

LOL! How you make that cut and don't know it.... They should not be in the back country at all!