Be prepared to share the trail with hundreds of people; this is an extremely popular route, especially on summer … Just reminded me how quickly the weather can change out there! Or even worse than that: just more and more impact on fragile, beautiful places. on As the saying goes “if you can’t stand the heat....” My advice? on Now that I could be down with. on Have fun! Hiking to Colchuck Lake. Overuse isn't on WTA's radar in any serious way. How many photos did you find? on Stampede, indeed. There was compact snow the entire trail to Colchuck Lake… The first time you round the corner and come out of the trees at Colchuck Lake is something of a religious experience. Finally hitting the lake, our group found the perfect lunch spot overlooking Dragontail Peak, Aasgard Pass and Colchuck Glacier/Peak. However why do any of the basic hikes along I-90, Route 2, SR20, Rainier and "Colchuck Lake" require reports? cuz I'm tired of doing it, Muledeer Now we seem to have "amazonified" hiking in which the masses open an app and 'scroll down' to receive step by step directions, details of bugs and even ratings so you can enjoy your "best" experience. Sorry not sorry. Overall, the icy spots are hard to spot so keep your eyes peeled! on Colchuck Lake is an out and back trail, with a roundtrip of eight miles and an elevation gain of 2,300 feet. Is it possible to hike this in the winter? The Colchuck Lake hike is undoubtedly one of the PNW's best and is VFC's favorite, aside from what sits beyond the lakes in the Enchantments. Hiked from the bridge at Bridge Creek campground clear up to the lake and back. Many great spots for swimming and snoozing. And yes, I know that sounds crazy. Colchuck, ricola on Maybe we need sacrifice zones for vanity hiking, same way we have them for mining and logging. Seattle, WA 98104. And all this is within relatively easy reach. Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake Trail is a 9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Leavenworth, Washington that features a lake and is rated as difficult. on Who the hell wants to try and enjoy nature when the line is like Disneyland? Jun 14, 2020 05:32 AM, Dream Delay - but the place means more to me, though, than my desire to see it. And it's not the first time. Print. I can only conclude its another form of begging for ephemeral 'social media' currency …. (I appreciate your parody of this type of report. I find my happiness in doing the most I possibly can to help slow the spread of a deadly virus. Trip Day Hike - Colchuck Lake. I do admit I scan the woods for cougars when I'm hiking a lonely trail, and I do think about humans with nefarious intent in some places. We spent about 45 min at the lake eating lunch and taking photos then headed down at 12:45. Colchuck Lake Trail (Trip Report) Knowing how popular the Colchuck Lake trail is, we started our hike at 3am to avoid crowds and catch sunrise. Colchuck Lake The forest road has some serious washboard and potholes and while you might make it in a regular sedan without damage to your vehicle, I think high clearance is recommended. on Help me understand where you're at. As this video (reposted by the outmatched Forest Service) shows, people park for miles along the road, creating a one-lane clog. Camping at Colchuck Lake. Everyone pays taxes and this is public land. Additionally, I will never understand why people actually spend time writing "trip reports" on this site. Jun 13, 2020 07:49 PM. The Lake wasn't frozen over yet. Jun 15, 2020 02:22 PM. Roads are paid for with public funds, but we you still have to pass an exam before you hop behind the wheel. Colchuck lake. Without hourly reports, an unwitting hiker might show up and twist their ankle on a rock that has been loosened in the last 60 minutes or they might be caught unawares by the last remnants of a small snow patch and - having not been told to pack microspikes, crampons, ice skates, bear spray, and a zamboni - slip, strike their head AND DIE. And as to your suggestion that Mr. Squirrel do some volunteer work to help trails, he IS doing volunteer work by deploying his superb writing skills in defense of the natural world. Love it. on The stark truth, though, is that this isn't sustainable. I'm more than just a cranky squirrel. Pick less popular trails. Congratulations, btw, on your brave trek up the imposing Mt. Long and Kathy Long made the first recorde… There are just more people here than there was even 10 yrs ago. Only by really going out of your way to not pay attention can you act like you're the first person to reach the shores of Colchuck. 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