Rock Cairns
Day 2
---------
There isn't much of a real 'trail' around the Enchantments since the terrain is mostly rocky (well, what else do you expect in the mountains). Its these Rock Cairns that are used to mark the trails to denote the recommended path for hikers (of course you can still navigate with just the map once you've understood the topography - but sometimes you might just run into a sheer cliff or an unscalable peak).
Some of these cairns were hard to spot (and some were toppled). Where these really helped was in snow fields where they show the trail (footprints helped too)!
More photos coming soon.. Stay tuned!
Some rights reserved
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009
|
Map
1 note /
11 comments
Submerged Log
Day 2
---------
Since we started at the Snow Lake trail and would be ending at the Colchuck/Stuart Lake trail, the plan was to leave one car at each trailhead so we could drive back. Brandon drove me back to the Snow Lake trailhead after I parked my car at the Colchuck/Stuart Lake trailhead (I was hoping my car wouldn't get broken into in my absence of 6 days - and I wasn't a fan of driving my super-low suspension car on dirt roads to get there either).
On Day 2, I suddenly realize I've left my car keys in Brandon's car! Now we have to hitch a ride from the end point to the Brandon's car at the Snow Lake trailhead. It was a good thing we were heading out on Sunday - we were hoping there would be people around and we wouldn't have to wait for hours for someone to show up. There weren't many hikers on the trails we passed.
Some rights reserved
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009
|
Map
2 comments
Lake Viviane / Temple Peak
Day 2
---------
The Enchantments region has many restrictions for hikers - no dogs, no campfires..... But the most peculiar of them all - you have to urinate on rocks and not on vegetation. Apparently mountain goats have an affinity for salt in urine and tend to paw/eat vegetation. The ranger who handed out our permits also warned us that we should keep our shoes inside our tents to avoid being chewed on by the goats. I was careful enough to do this, but my hat - that I kept outside on my bag had a hole right through it - chewed on nicely by the brazen mountain goats that seem to know to roam around campsites.
Some rights reserved
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009
|
Map
8 comments
Lake Viviane
Day 2
---------
After a particularly steep hike, scrambling over rocks - unbalanced with my heavy backpack and a tripod in the other hand (I was the only idiot in there to even bother with a tripod), we finally reached the core Enchantments zone - behold Lake Viviane! It was quite a sight for sore eyes (well, sore legs actually.. but whatever).
Brandon set down his pack to run off exploring the surrounding hills, while I decided to finally serve my purpose as the photographer on the trip (he was hoping I would actually come out with some decent photos but seeing how the hike was going, I didn't think I'd be in any mood to take photos). I set up my tripod and start clicking at the lake (I was too exhausted to move around taking photos - all these photos of the lake were pretty much taken from one spot)
I met a couple of groups hiking the other way and had some interesting conversations! Its always fun to talk to other hikers and find out what's ahead and exchange experiences. Most of them looked at my tripod like I must be crazy.. One chap was particularly helpful - he had a map with the old names of the lakes. Rune Lake was renamed 'Perfection Lake' by the US Forestry Dept (Mystery solved!). He also recommended I take it easy on Day 3 to really enjoy the beauty of the Enchantments instead of exerting myself - which made sense!
Some rights reserved
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009
|
Map
9 comments
Camp Robbers
Day 2
---------
The original plan was to get up to photograph sunrise - but after the grueling hike, I couldn't care less. All I wanted to do was to get as much sleep as possible, conserving as much energy as possible for a second day of steep hiking with heavy backpacks (I then notice I have enough food for 2 people - not helping with the weight!).
We get up a little after sunrise, break camp and notice these Camp Robbers flying all around while we're boiling water for breakfast. Since I had packed so much food, I decided it might be a good idea to try to get rid of food (however little) by feeding these pesky brave birds - Brandon also wanted to get some photos of him feeding the birds.. I figured it was time to change my facebook profile page and decided to get a few shots of myself too.
And yes - we did get matching hats :D
Well, I know you're not supposed to feed wildlife and stuff, but....
All rights reserved
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2009
|
Map
0 comments
|
Deutsch
|
English
|
Español
|
Français
|
|
Italiano
|
Português
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
