Colchuck Lake is an amazing lake near the top of the Enchantments in Leavenworth, WA. My boss, the uber-athlete, promised to take me and my co-worker/friend, Lindsay, on a day-hike to Colchuck Lake. He’s been up and over Asgard Pass and through-hiked the Enchantments several times, and Lindsay and I have seen amazing photos and heard incredible stories of his adventures, but today he made good on his promise and took us to Colchuck Lake.
Like the true Sherpa he is, he packed our water (with a fizzy tablet of some sort of electrolyte in it), his water, and all snacks. All we had to do was to get our bodies up there. It took 2+ hours to get there. We hiked on a trail (sometimes), over tree roots that acted like steps, up granite “staircases,” and sometimes the trail was just to “follow the dirt on the rocks.” Once we arrived, the sight took my breath away. There’s no way to explain the intense beauty, and pictures barely capture the magnificence of the lake. If you ever have the opportunity to go, take it. You’ll remember it for the rest of your life.
Gratuitous selfie.
After a quick rest, a snack, some water, and several gratuitous selfies we headed back down the trail. As I followed my Sherpa down the trail, watching as he picked his way around bigger rocks or tricky tree roots, my mind started wondering about this week’s blog and how I can present this amazing experience to you, my reader. While I’m sure there’s more, I offer the following 5 lessons I learned while hiking Colchuck:
1. Use more mosquito repellant. Yes, this one’s first for a reason. I sprayed the heck out of myself before setting out and the little buggers were still all over me the second I stopped or slowed down. Sometimes they even bit through my pants! My poor friend is extra delicious and one time I looked back she had a whole swarm of them around her. Although a good lesson to apply to hiking Colchuck, it’s also a good life lesson. Sometimes when we’re on our journey we’re surrounded by little bitey things that try to distract us from what we’ve set out to do, or from noticing the beauty around us. Think of how pleasant your life will be if you do your best to repel those things that don’t serve you, and only act as a nuisance or distraction from your journey.
2. Remember to watch where you step and not get too distracted by looking around. Colchuck Lake is 4 miles up and in the Wenatchee National Forrest. Parts of the trail are heavily forested and the Icicle River tributaries flow all around you. The natural beauty is spectacular! But, I’d strongly encourage anyone on that trail to diligently watch their footing. There are roots and rocks everywhere. On your life’s journey, I’d also encourage you to watch your path for potential pitfalls. There are things to trip, to catch your toe around every turn. Pay attention and watch your footing.
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3. Sometimes it’s better if you look up from the path you’re currently on. There’s a part of the trail (several parts actually) where you’re climbing up a granite “staircase.” In one section I realized that I had been so focused on what step was in front of me, that I didn’t notice a much easier path beside me. Sometimes in life we get so focused on what’s next, our next step on this path we’ve set out on, that we don’t notice that there’s another (perhaps easier) way to get to the same place.
4. The journey’s better with a buddy. It was a magnificent hike – hands down, but for me having my trusted friends around me, supporting me, made all the difference in the world. Life is like that too. Surround yourself with those who love and support you and just watch the magic that unfolds.
5. I can do this! When we first started talking about hiking Colchuck (8 miles out and back, rated “difficult” on alltrails.com), I wasn’t sure I could do it. My exercise regime has consisted of walking a couple times per week, yoga, and getting up to get my own drink on weekends. But I did it! We went slow and steady, stopped occasionally to catch our breath, and presto! I conquered that mountain. Ok, well, partially conquered it anyway. Next year we’ve vowed to either through-hike the Enchantments, or at least go up to Asgard Pass and into the lakes of the Enchantments. If this girl can make it up that mountain, without really training, on a quest of comradery and natural wonder, what can’t I do?
That’s where we’re going next year. Asgard Pass is on the left. (That’s Dragontail Peak on the right).
Sometimes it takes a day hike up a root and granite filled trail, into somewhere surrealy spectacular (that’s right – I’m a writer, I can make up words…) to remind us that we really can do it – whatever “it” is. Our bodies are stronger than we give them credit for, our strength of commitment is remarkable, and our love for each other is boundless.
This week I invite you to take the Colchuck Lessons to heart: Repel that which does not serve you, watch your footing, look up, find a buddy to be with, and yes – you can do it!
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