The Hungry Hiker's video: DAY HIKING IN WASHINGTON STATE Thru-Hiking The Enchantments in One Day

DAY HIKING IN WASHINGTON STATE | Thru-Hiking The Enchantments in One Day // This was one of the hardest (and most beautiful) day hikes I’ve ever done in my life. It wasn’t the distance that was challenging for me (WTA says this trail is 18 miles, but my Garmin clocked me in at 21.69 miles for the day), it was the terrain. There was everything from constant scrambling, climbing and route finding to steep inclines and steep descents followed by a long slog out in the dark. We started from the Stuart Lake Trailhead at 4:30AM, heading up to Colchuck Lake. After a quick breakfast stop at Colchuck Lake, we headed up Aasgard Pass where we gained 1,900 feet in less than a mile over boulders, loose scree and often times were at the mercy of various cairns placed throughout the “trail.” It took me three hours to get from the boulder field at Colchuck Lake to the top of Aasgard Pass. The rest of the trail was all downhill, sort of. Once at the top of Aasgard, we stopped for a lunch break somewhere in the middle of the Core Zone. I did a fantastic foot soaking at Inspiration Lake. Then it was sauntering around Perfection Lake (my favorite lake in the entire Enchantments area), Sprite Lake and Leprechaun Lake before starting the steep descent from Lake Viviane to Upper Snow Lake. From Lower Snow Lake and Nada Lake, all the way back to the Snow Lakes Trailhead, I hiked in the dark with a headlamp.I reached the Snow Lakes Trailhead at 11:00PM Total Hiking Hours: 18.5 Would I do this one again? Heck yes, but only if I got to camp in the Core Zone for 3-4 days. There are so many areas up there I want to go back and explore. And I want to see this area when the sun is out and the sky is clear. Unfortunately, we got stuck hiking this one in all of the thick smoke from the nearby wildfires. A Backcountry Camping Permit is required when camping anywhere in The Enchantments zoned area. A free day-use permit is required for day hikers doing this trail and are available at either trailhead (Stuart Lake Trailhead or Snow Lakes trailhead.) Don't forget to dislay your NW Forest Pass or the America The Beautiful pass in your car at the trailhead. Filmed: Saturday, September 12th, 2020 Location: Central Cascades - Leavenworth Area Length: 18 miles, one-way (according to WTA) Elevation Gain: 4,500 feet Highest Point: 7,800 feet Link to Trail on WTA: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/enchantment-lakes All music by Musicbed.com Get a FREE month of Musicbed: https://www.musicbed.com/invite/CEYrh Help support my YouTube Channel by joining my Patreon and become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/TheHungryHiker Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/thehungryhiker Visit my Amazon Storefront to see all of my favorite backpacking and video gear: https://www.amazon.com/shop/kathleenlovesyoga ******* Get the FREE GUIDE - My 10 Favorite Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hiking Planning Resources - Delivered Directly to Your Inbox http://eepurl.com/bL8fWz ******* DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my YouTube Channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this one. Thank you for your support! *******MY LINKS******* WEBSITE: http://www.The-Hungry-Hiker.com INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/_thehungryhiker/ https://youtu.be/9VjRsOQe5Ys