Aasgard Pass - 7.2.2012
We started from the Stuart Lake trailhead (3440').
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The big picture... showing our approximate route from Colchuck Lake up to Aasgard Pass... and on to our campsite on the eastern edge of the Upper Enchantments.
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While the Upper and Lower Enchantments are still mostly snow covered, we found lots of campsites in the large rock outcroppings 500 feet above Perfection Lake and Crystal Lake.
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Snowdog and BarbE are all smiles at the beginning of the hike.
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After hiking 2.5 miles take the trail to Colchuck Lake.
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Snowdog and BarbE crossing Mountaineer Creek 4600')... still have 2 miles and a 1000 feet of elevation to reach Colchuck Lake.
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About half way around Colchuck Lake we can see Dragontail Peak (center) and Colchuck Peak (right)... Aasgard Pass on the left.
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Colchuck Glacier and Colchuck Peak.
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A closer look at Dragontail Peak.
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The approximate route that we will take from the south end of Colchuck Lake up to Aasgard Pass.
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Aasgard Pass from the south end of Colchuck Pass.
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Lunch break at the south end of Colchuck Lake... Colchuck Peak above.
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Looking up toward the col between Dragontail Peak (left) and Colchuck Peak.
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Helicopter activity on Dragontail Peak... looking for a missing climber.
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Looking at Colchuck Lake from the south end.
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BarbE negotiates the huge boulders at the south end of Colchuck Lake.
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Snowdog is almost past the large boulders... and getting ready to head up Aasgard.
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People have been glissading down from Colchuck Peak.
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Snowdog and BarbE heading up Aasgard.
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Gaining elevation up Aasgard... Axis Peak (left) and Casmere Mountain in the distance.
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The NE side of Dragontail Peak as we ascend Aasgard.
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Most of the snow we crossed was on the lower third of the hike up Aasgard.
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Snowdog and BarbE clicking away.
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Views to the north broaden with every step up.
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BarbE and Snowdog continue up Aasgard.
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Ever upward.
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The NE side of Dragontail Peak.
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Are we even half way up Aasgard yet?
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The path is reasonable.
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The last snow crossing is coming up... and we are high enough now to see some of the high points along the south side of Dragontail.
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Snowdog (center) has crossed the last snow crossing.
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BarbE nearing the snow crossing.
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The NE side of Dragontail.
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Broad views to the north as we near the top of Aasgard Pass.
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BarbE on the final snow crossing.
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Will we ever get there.
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Looking across Axis Peak on the left to Jack Ridge and Eightmile Mountain... Cashmere Mountain on the right.
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BarbE is really close to the top of Aasgard Pass.
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At the top of Aasgard Pass now... looking at the Dragontail Glacier... the Dragontail summit is the subtle bump in the right center of the photo... Witches Tower on the far left.
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Little Annapurna (left).
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BarbE leaving Aasgard Pass and heading toward McClellan Peak.
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Snowdog is still smiling.
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Awwww...
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Snowdog and BarbE in the Upper Enchantments... looking for a campsite now... McClellan Peak in the distance.
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Continuing through the Upper Enchantments... Little Annapurna above left.
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Continuing east in the upper Enchantments... Prusik Peak and The Temple on the left... McClellan Peak on the right.
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Looking for a place to pitch our tents that isn't covered by snow.
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Looking back toward Dragontail Peak.
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A goat comes to greet us.
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Snowdog and BarbE relax in our kitchen... Little Annapurna above.
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Looking down on Crystal Lake... and through the gap to Navaho Peak in the Teanaway.
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McClellan Peak... with Crystal Lake lower right.
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Prusik Peak and The Temple are on the left... looking down into the lower Enchantments.
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A family of 5 goats kept us entertained around our campsite.
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Little Annapurna from our campsite.
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Looking down on Perfection Lake and the lower Enchantments from our campsite.
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Little Annapurna and Dragontail Peak from our campsite.
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Inspiration Lake (left) and Perfection Lake... with Prusik Peak and The Temple on the right.
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A pano shot of the lower Enchantments... Perfection Lake below... Prusik Peak and The Temple on the left... McClellan Peak on the right.
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Spending a fitful night in the tent with fairly constant 20 to 30 MPH winds, I finally got out of the tent at 11:30 a.m. to this view of Little Annapurna and Dragontail.
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A closeup of Little Annapurna.
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Enchantment Peak from our campsite.
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Three of the five goats that kept us company around our campsite.
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The weather in the Teanaway looks ugly... Crystal Lake below.
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The weather doesn't look so good on the other side of Prusik Pass (left)... looking down on Perfection Lake... it is starting to snow and I am heading for the tent.
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After getting back in the tent at noon and riding out the 7 hour snow storm, I'm up for this view of Little Annapurna... the weather is improving in the Teanaway.
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The wind is still blowing pretty hard as we watch the clouds roll up and over Aasgard Pass.
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Storm or sunshine... it just can't make up its mind.
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Looks pretty good toward Leavenworth and Wenatchee.
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Looking down on Perfection Lake.
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Navaho Peak and Earl Peak in the distance.
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Looking down on Inspiration Lake... starting to snow again.
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Looking back toward Dragontail Peak and Aasgard Pass... ugly.
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Looking down on Perfection Lake... windy and snowing.
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It is 8:15 pm... and after being out of the tent for an hour, I am heading back to the tent... hoping for better weather in the morning.
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