Colchuck Lake

We saw this beautiful lake while backpacking a decade ago up to Aasgard pass and the Enchantments.  Today, we did a day hike.

Colchuck Lake

We started at the Stuart Lake trailhead

The trail was gentle at first, in the morning light

Long-flowered blue bells

Plenty of bridges to cross at first

Sometimes the trail itself was a stream bed

After about two and half miles, we turned on to the Colchuck Lake trail, and that was the end of any gentleness

Roots and rocks, roots and rocks

Some of the stream crossings required a bit of bravery

The higher we got, the bigger the boulders got

Some of the rocks were decorated with pretty penstemons

Going through boulders here, because the trail was flooded

Pausing on a super boulder

As we got higher, the views started to open up

Then back to climbing boulders

A view of the surrounding mountains

Finally, we arrived at beautiful Colchuck Lake

Keith at the lake, with Dragontail Peak in the background

Getting ready to settle down for lunch

Looking at Colchuck Glacier

The view from our lunch spot

Looking at the very steep and icy ascent to Aasgard Pass

This billy goat crashed our lunch party.  We didn't want to get tangled up with this guy, so we packed up our stuff and headed back the way we came.

False Solomon's seal

Mock Orange

A great hike full of challenges and memories

Stats:
Round trip: 9.3 miles
Elevation gain: 2300 feet
Date hiked:  June 21, 2017