Objective: McClellan Peak
With no exciting trick-or-treating going on Halloween 2020, it was the perfect chance to get out and bag a peak. In the quite popular Enchantments near Leavenworth is a range of mountains that I have gazed upon during many phases of my life. In the last few years I have started climbing them.
Nada lake on the hike in on Snow Lakes trail.
(Upper) Snow Lake just after sunrise
The trail between Snow Lakes and Lake Viviane gets a little more difficult, some easier scrambling, and elusive in places. And it was pretty icy in spots just from the morning dew. The fun was just starting!
Sunset above Lake Viviane looking to the SW
A brief pause from my photo timeline for any of you who have been paying attention to sunrises and sunsets. The photo above and below were actually taken the day before (and the 2 Nada Lake photos). I hiked in a day early and back to snow lakes to camp and meet Jesse on day 2.
So back to day two. Just past Lake Viviane is Leprechaun Lake which was mostly frozen over. From here you can definitely make out the peak on McClellan and just a little hill to walk up!
Okay, not really haha.
The alpine larch
Jesse, who has hiked here many times, was pointing out cool looking rocks everywhere. We weren’t going to pass up making this shot happen with those rock formations above.
Once we got up on the ridge there was really just two spots that got a little more technical. We ditched our heavy packs and made our way up.
Looking west towards Little Annapurna, Colchuck, Dragontail, and Aasgard Pass
On the summit block of McClellan peak facing north. The actual order of my hike went 1, 2, Lake Viviane, 2, 3, 4, 2, 1.
It was a spectacular day to sit up here and take in the views. Although I forgot to make a 360 image at the top I did just after we came down the south of the peak.
We set our next objective as Enchantment Peak (very top left corner on photo above).
I ended up taking up some of our time taking photos at the lakes and sunset was already coming upon us! We hustled up towards Prusik Pass knowing that Enchantment peak was going to be a stretch with out climbing in the dark.
Prusik peak - peaking over Prusik Pass
Looking back north towards the lakes on the way up towards Prusik Pass
The iconic Prusik Peak on right. Possibly my favorite photo from the trip.
We got up to the saddle and sunset was in full force. I went straight into hyper photo mode. We basically decided that the sunset here was totally worth the destination and we’d just hang out taking photos until the show was over then hike back out. We did run into two hikers on our way up here and they happened to be heading to the same area. One of them is actually in the photo above. Can you find them?
I made it just a little further up as the sky turned pink. Looking to the NE.
McClellan on left, Perfection Lake center, Little Annapurna just to the right. Looking to the SW.
With the light of the Halloween full moon
Even though I didn’t end up hitting all the objectives I set out to, this trip was just what I was wanting it to be - both through the lens and challenge-wise. And to be in good company with my friend Jesse made it that much more enjoyable. Can’t wait to make some prints and then get back out there again!