Did the traverse from Stuart Lake TH to Snow Lakes TH as a day hike.
I would recommend reading the Leavenworth Rangers trip report (7/17) for this hike.
Left my car at Snow Lakes TH and rode the 5:45a shuttle I had booked (leavenworthshuttle.com) over to Stuart Lake TH. Arrived back at Snow Lakes TH at 5:30pm. I stuck to the main trail and my Garmin watch recorded 20.2mi and 5410ft of ascent and 7467ft of descent.
This was my first time so I'll give some impressions which might be useful if you haven't been before:
- It's spectacular, especially in the upper sections, so it makes sense that so many people are in the area. I think I was only alone on the trail for about 5-10 minutes for the whole day - rest of the time there where people behind or in front.
- There are goats everywhere! Once I stepped off the trail to yield to an approaching party and there was a goat, right in front of me munching.
- Setting aside the actual elevation gain / loss, the trail is pretty easy going except for the parts that connect to the higher area. The trail at the end of Colchuck Lake starts with boulder hopping and then continues straight up to Aasgard Pass (no switchbacks), with cairns leading your way through the rocks. There are a couple places towards the top where you have to scramble a bit to get up, but not too bad. The other side from Lake Viviane down to Snow Lakes is very steep in places, and has some areas where you are just routing down or across granite slabs (happy it wasn't wet!). In these steeper areas I found myself spending more time figuring out the best way up/down, and looking for the next Cairn.
- All that descent definitely adds up! Was pretty happy to be done, but very happy I did it.
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