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Day Hike in the Enchantments |
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Two of my dad's best employees are avid hikers, climbers, runners, and all-around outdoorsy types. Three years ago them two and my dad did the 21 mile hike through the enchantments, a fantastically beautiful area of the Cascade's very near Leavenworth. Since then it has spun into an annual company event. This year there were 19 of us, including Heather, my brother, and I, making the strenuous hike. It starts at one point at 3400' feet. Then it is uphill for four miles to 5600'. Then the hard part comes. You have to hike up Aasgard pass, which takes you to 7700'. It felt like we were walking straight up. Most everyone was thoroughly beat after that stretch. That is the peak however and from there it is 16 more miles down hill to 1400' at a different parking lot. It took us 13 hours of straight hiking to complete. Charlie, the one who was in charge is extremely fit and while we all trudged along he ran between the leaders and the stragglers to make sure everyone was doing ok. Sometimes he runs the entire loop in about 6 hours. Anyway, following are some of the many pictures that I took:
We weren't even high up yet.
Lake Kolchuck at the base of Aasgard pass.
We had to navigate some large boulders
This was the steep part. It is a good thing I had lots of power bars along.
Lake Kolchuck from higher up
Heather did very well navigating the boulders.
The Enchantments are cool because of the pointy mountains. Here are Heather and my dad in front of a pointy mountain.
Here is another pointy mountain.
Me in front of some more pointy mountains.
A portion of us shortly after a thunderstorm hit.
And finally, Heather navigating a log bridge across a river.
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