Traverse the Upper Enchantments

The Enchantments

I didn't win the lottery for the camping permit to the Enchantments. The season was kind of late, the color in the Easton Pond was already dark, but there should still be some color in the Enchantment basin since there were not snowing there yet. 

So I decided to do daily traverse from Colchuck Lake to the Lower Enchantments via Aasgard Pass. My friend and I would turn back as late as 2:00 pm so as to climb down Aasgard Pass to the Colchuck Lake before 5:00m. 

The first three weekends in the Leavenworth are Autumn Festival. We arrived at Eight Mile Camping Ground early afternoon to secure the camping spot. Then we enjoyed the afternoon and night life in the beautiful town of Leavenworth.

Easton Pond along I-90 at Exit 70, 10/08/2016

Falls Colors at Leavenworth, WA, 10/08/2016

Falls Colors at Leavenworth, WA, 10/08/2016

Autumn Festival at Leavenworth, WA, 10/08/2016

The Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass

We got up at 4:00am and started the trip on the Colchuck Lake trail head at 5:00am. It was still very dark, but the 5.5 miles trail to the Colchuck Lake is pretty straight forward, and arrived there about 7:40am. The pace was little slow, and we didn't catch the moment of the Sunrise. The weather is good to climb up the Aasgard Pass.

Colchuck Lake, WA, 10/09/2016

The Aasgard Pass was snow free and there existed some Larch Tree, with golden color. As usual, it takes about one hour at least to detour the lake and cross over the boulder area.

Aasgard Pass, WA, 10/09/2016 

We were not alone. We climbed with other few folks up the Pass and enjoyed the beautiful view of Colchuck Lake.

Climbing the Aasgard Pass, 10/09/2016

Larch Tress on the Aasgard Pass

The Enchantment Basin

Isolation Lake, WA 10/09/2016

Isolation Lake, WA 10/09/2016

Lower Enchantments, WA 10/09/2016

Lower Enchantments WA 10/09/2016

Lower Enchantments and Little Annapurna, 10/09/2016

Enchantment Basin, WA 10/09/2016

Inspiration Point

This was the last spot before turning back.

Perfection Lake and Prusik Peak WA 10/09/2016

Trekking to the Picture Lake, Mt Baker

There are lots of photography opportunities during the Fall season in the Mount Baker area. This is my first trip to Mt Baker to take a chance and to stay at the Seattle Mountaineers lodge at Mt Baker. The place is very cozy, and the volunteers prepared a very good meal.

My plan was to stay there two nights, and take some pictures near the Picture Lake, Artist Point, and pick up some trail to walk around. Unfortunately the weather is not good, and I took just few good shots.

The Picture Lake

The Picture Lake is an iconic place to shoot Mount Shuksan, and it's reflection in the lake. But it was cloudy, and even rained some time. Here are some pictures during Sunset and Sunrise moment.

Sunset in the Picture Lake, 09/23/2016

Foggy Morning in the Picture Lake, 09/24/2016

Mt Shuksan and Picture Lake, 09/24/2016

Sunset moment in the Picture Lake, 09/24/2016

The last color of the sunset in the Picture Lake, 09/24/2016

Table Mountain Trail

Table Mountain Trail is a 3.9 mile moderate trail, starting from the parking lots in the Artist Point.  trafficked. It's a very good trail to relax for hiking, walking, and trail running from July until October.

Table Mountain Trail and surroundings

Even though it was very cloudy, but there are few chances that the Mt Baker and Mount Shuksan loomed.

Mt Baker, 09/24/2016

Mt Baker, 09/24/2016

Mt Shuksan, 09/24/2016

Visiting the Zumwalt Prairie

About the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve

Zumwalt Prairie is a grassland area between the snowy Wallowa Mountains and the ragged cliffs of Hells Canyon. It's located in northeast Oregon near the border of Washington and Idaho. It's measuring 330,000 acres, much of the land is used for agriculture, with some portions protected as the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy. And part of that portion is designated as a National Natural Landmark. 

A hundred-fifty years ago, this prairie was the seasonal hunting grounds of the Chief Joseph band of the Nez Perce. Stalked and hunted by whites in the 1870s, the Nez Perce were forced on a military retreat that led them 1,200 miles to seek support from other tribes. Much of the history of this area centers around Chief Joseph -- that's his Christian name. His native name translates as "Thunder Rolls Down the Mountain."

Chief Joseph's nephew, Yellow Wolf, was a vital strategist in the retreat. He never converted to Christianity, and, like some other Nez Perce, followed a revivalist tradition called the Dreamer Faith, which was deeply rooted in the environment of eastern Oregon and was a call to return to indigenous traditions.

Zumwalt Prairie has one of the highest concentrations of breeding hawks and eagles in the world—largely because the native bunch-grass prairie here teems with their favorite prey, ground squirrels. 

Most of the preserve is off limits, but you are allowed to stroll on few trails or scramble up the Harsin Butte for a 360 degree of stunning look.

The Camping Site

We left Seattle on May 20, 2016 Friday, after about 8 hours driving, we arrived at the camping ground in the Wallowa Lake State Park. The campground is just next to the Wallowa Lake, and the Wallowa river run through the bridge at the entrance gate. In summer time, here is very crowed with lots of campers.

8 hours driving from Seattle to the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve

The Wallowa Lake viewed from North end

May 21 - Exploring the Zumzalt Prairie

We got up on Saturday and prepared the hiking to Zumzalt/Wallowa/Imnaha area for wolf observation, birding and more spring wildflowers. A few destinations that we are planning to go on Saturday:

• Patti's Trail
• Harsin Butte
• Horned Lark Trail

We left Wallowa Lake State Park camping ground, and drove Highway 82 east of Enterprise 3.2 miles and make right turn (North) for Buckhorn Spring between milepost 68 and 69, into paved Crow Creek Road for 1.1 miles to a fork, veered right to stay on Crow Creek Road for another 3.9 miles to another fork. Then veered right onto Zumwalt Road. After about 11.2 miles, the road becomes gravel road. Turned right on Duckett Road 1.4 miles away. And drove on the road until we saw Buckett Barn Information Center.

South view for Wallowa Mountains from Crow Creek Road

South view for Wallowa Mountains from Crow Creek Road

On the road of Crow Creek Road, we met a few raptors and lots of wild flowers.

Raptor flies away from the post on Crow Creek Road

                             

Unfortunately Patti's Trail was closed for the maintenance, and we couldn't scramble this beautiful trail. 

So we decided to scramble Harsin Butte to enjoy the wild flowers. The parking lot's GPS location is (45.526555N, -116.964912W). The trail to the butte is just 1.6 miles round trip with 690' elevation gain.  700 feet. However there is no visible trail at the beginning of the scramble, but we found lots of beautiful flowers. The group scatter around and scramble slowly up to the top of the butte. 

Viewed Wallowa Mountains from the top of Harsin Butte

After finished Harson Butte, we continued driving along Crow Creek Road for a few miles and hiked Horned Lark tail for wild flowers.

The trail started with stepping over the fence

Start of Horned Lark trail

Karen on the trail

Linda, our group leader, walk on the trail

May 22 - Exploring the Canyon Vista

On Sunday we drove north to Hells Cayon, and planned to hike Canyon Vista and Buckhorn Lookout.

Backpacking in the Ancient Lake

About the Ancient Lake

Ancient Lake is in the Patholes Coulee - a recessional-cataract canyon. It was caused by the Missoula Floods, the cataclysmic floods that swept periodically across this area and down the Columbia River Gorge, eventually into the Pacific Ocean at the end of the last Ice Age.The Missoula glacial lake outburst floods were the result of periodic sudden ruptures of the ice dam on the Clark Fork River that created Glacial Lake Missoula. After each ice dam rupture, the waters of the lake would rush down the Clark Fork and the Columbia River, flooding much of eastern Washington and the Willamette Valley in western Oregon.

1. Glacier Lake Missoula 
2. Clark Fork River Valley 
3. Camas Prarie 
4. Channeled Scablands 
5. Dry Falls 
6. Flood Debris 
7. Erratics 
8. Temporary Lakes 
9. Columbia River Gorge 

There are few small lakes in this Coulee, such as Ancient Lake, Dusty Lake, Quincy Lake, Burke Lake, and etc. Ancient Lake is the best place to set up an overnight camp, it is just 2.5 miles' walk from the trail head, without much elevation gain. Along the way there are several side trails that lead to the top of a basalt blade that separates the dual-cataract canyon.


Every year April to June is the best time to exploring Ancient Lakes in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area. Usually during this time, it's sunny and warm, which make it easier for you to pitch your tent by a lake.

Preparation

Since the water in the lake and nearby are from agricultural and other purpose. It may contain the chemical. So you need to bring enough water for drinking, coking, and etc. Usually you need to bring at least 5 liters water for one night camping. On the hot days, you may need to bring more. Since you just need to hike over 2 miles from trail head to the camping ground, so the load shouldn't been an issue for you. Off course you can bring some luxury gears, such as chairs.

Start the Hike

We arrived at the TH at 10:40 am and started the trip about 11:00 am. But today it was cloudy with isolated rain drops though, but it's good for hiking without worrying too much about sweating.

Heading to the Ancient Lake

We started the hiking along the old jeep road to the east up the Coulee through sage and cactus, rising ever so slightly. A huge boulder tumbled from the cliff above provides the only shade on the hike.

The erratic rock remembers the history of  the super flooding

Over half a mile, you will notice the first slim waterfall pouring down into the deep Coulee, where you can take a water break and enjoy the beauty of the grand view in the whole Coulee. You can see the ring cliff in the valley. To continue the hiking, you will see the fork. You can take either left or right. But the road will be little flat if you take the right road, which is kind of Jeep road. We took the left one and took the right one returned to trail head the next day.

About 1 hour and 15 minutes, you should be close to the Ancient Lake, where you will see three small lakes stand near each other. After you arrived at the upper hill, you will see another bigger waterfall on the east Ancient Lake. You can continue the trip upper the hill and then stay between the two lakes. You can cross them and see the third small lake on the south.

Viewed from the south side of the Ancient Lake

Ancient Lake and the waterfall

Cmping Sites

There are lots of camping spots you can choose. We set up our tent by 2:00pm, and prepared our lunch for an hour. It's still cloudy, but fortunately the temperature was still good for our next exploring destination - the Dusty Lake.

Ritu and Ashish are setting their tent

Dusty Lake Exploration
It took us about one hour to arrive at the top hill, where we can take a look at the lake. The Dusty Lake is much bigger than the Ancient Lake.

It took use about 30 minutes back to the Ancient Lake by taking the short cut, instead of the rock scramble.

The view of the coulee. The Lake is on the other side

The Ancient Lake

After back from the Dusty Lake, we explored the Ancient Lake by hiking up to the waterfall, where you need a few yards' rock scramble. The waterfall is the main water source of the Ancient Lake. It come from the upper area where lots of farms produce fruit and other crops. There may have another trail ends on the top of the waterfall. From top of the waterfall, you should be able to bird view the whole Ancient Lake area.

Directions

Take I-90 east to exit 149, SR 281. Go north towards Quincy. After 5.6 miles turn left on White Trail Road, and follow that 7.8 miles to road 9-NW. Continue 5.9 miles on this road (it drops onto a bench and doubles back to the south). Park in the parking area at the end of the road.