On the Road Nomad Life: The Enchantments Washington State and the PNW
Chasing some waterfalls.
The On the Road Nomad Life is back along with a few hidden tips & highlights for those looking to get out and explore the Pacific Northwest region of America. Thanks for following along as we head to the Enchantments in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest!
Hmmmm. Where to start when so much has happened. Even though our last entry in the series was just two weeks ago! If you missed the last rendition of The Nomad Life check it HERE.
The Nissan Rogue spent a week in the city of Kalispell, Montana. This is the nearest city to Glacier National Park. Which was interesting because I assumed that The Rogue would go back to Glacier National Park after spending just two days there.
However two items deterred The Rogue from making that happen:
1. Much of the park was closed due to the protection of the Native Americans on the east side of the park, and to snowfall has hikes like the Highline Loop still closed in July. (If you have read my book this is the hike that burst @Broughy13’s capillaries that we thought might have been tick bites.)
2. Kalispell Montana has plenty of places to explore and adventure when not writing, working, or teaching yoga!
A few fun spots were the bicycle trails that ran up, down, around, sideways, and all over the city, plus hiking in Lone Pine State Park, hanging at Kalispell Brewing Company (for both beers & Kombucha), and hikes in Herron Park. In getting ready for the backpacking trip for the Enchantments the Kalispell REI also hit the jackpot with a shopping spree of needed and required gear!
Lost Man Trail, Idaho.
After leaving Kalispell Montana where did the path lead to?
A day hike in the lovely city of Coeur d’Alene Idaho beckoned a lovely encounter at the top of “Lost Man Trail” with, you guessed it, a Lost Man. He was so surprised at the presence of other humans as he ambled out of his RV The Rogue didn’t have the heart to tell him about COVID-19 or how racist Donald Trump is. The Rogue kids. But for real he might not be aware about what is going on.
The hike was great though and it’s always fun to visit Coeur d’Alene, Idaho!
Blue Lake, North Cascades WA.
This took the Rogue to Winthrop Washington and the Methow Valley.
The Rogue’s friend Stacey (our Enchantments permit winner!) has lived in Bellingham Washington nearby and she supplied a plethora of great hiking trails to forage through North Cascades National Park and several other National Forests nearby.
Winthrop (and the Methow Valley) in general was a hot & lovely place to spend three days. The Rogue was parked at the Bunk House Inn and all the meals in Winthrop were top notch. EVERY. SINGLE. MEAL. The Rogue ate well in Winthrop.
Hiking was done at Diablo Lake/Thunder Knob Pass, Cutthroat Lake, Rainy Pass on the PCT, The Heather Maples Loop, & The Rogue’s favorite Blue Lake! Stacey should be a forest ranger. Just great recommendations and knowledge all the way around.
This Eastern part of the Cascades to the Rogue is a vastly underrated slice of America that few visit compared to other places nearby but is every as amazing as places like Glacier, Yellowstone, the Salmon River, Bend, Mt Rainier, and more.
Diablo Lake via Thunder Knob Trail.
From there the Rogue made it to the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth Washington where it prepared to park on the side of the road for several days. It needed the rest.
We had backpacking permits into the Snow Zone of the Enchantments Wilderness. I am not sure if this foray into the wilderness should have been its own post but I’m going to attempt to squeeze it in!
The Enchantments is the MOST BEAUTIFUL place I have ever visited in America. I would repeat that it is the MOST BEAUTIFUL place in America.
It’s not a National Park or a well known city. It’s a rugged wilderness that required hard to get lottery permits to stay overnight OR you can take a massively HARD 24 mile day hike from Colchuck Lake parking lot to the Snow Lake Trailhead.
We hiked inside via the Snow Lake Trailhead on day one with all of our gear for three nights. Boy oh boy is it different backpacking compared to trekking with day packs to doing just a day hike. The weight (even with the smartest lightweight gear from great outdoorsy brands) still puts a whole different scope on how you feel. And I mean your back and shoulders specifically.
Inspiration Lake. Core Zone.
The hike in was about 9 miles and over 3,800 feet in elevation gain. We decided to camp at Snow Lake for all three nights instead of moving camp. We day hiked in to the Core Zone two days in a row where the most pristine alpine lakes, waterfalls, forests, mountain goats, bear cub (YIKES we were SO CLOSE!!!), and blue skies covered your eyes no matter which direction you looked.
Hiking into and out of the Core Zone is some of the most difficult hiking I have ever done, The Rogue would have definitely not been a fan. It’s a good thing there was no permit for the Rogue. The mileage does not matter in The Enchantments because of the massive elevation shifts, the enormous granite rocks, the bouldering, the huge steps down off of roots, and the mountain goats trying to drink your pee. No really they love human pee, nice and salty!
Thankfully when getting back to camp there was warm whiskey, blueberry edibles (it is Washington here friends), and ice baths in the alpine temperatures of Snow Lake awaiting to cure the hiking soreness.
The Enchantments was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had in my life. It’s too bad The Rogue was parked at the trailhead and missed out. She would have enjoyed it I am sure! You should bid on permits and try to go if you can handle the trek. You won’t be the slight bit disappointed. And if you win permits you should bring me because I want to go back!
You are also required to reward yourself with a soft pretzel and Hazy Enchantments IPA (if you partake) at Icicle Brewing Company afterwards! And oh yes a shower too. Maybe two showers and three pretzels actually?
In closing…the Rogue has learned a lot so far for being on the road for just a little over four weeks.
Keeping up with the business is actually easy because the distractions aren’t there to focus in on. The Rogue can’t wait to get to teach and take yoga in person again because it really misses it, the Rogue also miss doing kayak river cleanups, group hikes, the potential to start doing yoga/hiking retreats, and oh yeah the desire to have equal rights for all people in our country and world.
For now the Rogue will just keep pounding the rock where it can.
Write. Work. Cook. Be Kind. Sign Petitions. Donate to Activism. Hike, Bicycle. Do Yoga. Teach Yoga. And Feel Gratitude that it is alive and can do this.
The Rogue can’t wait to see what Bellingham Washington has in store for it.
Until next time be well fellow Earthlings.
Bon voyage to the Dirt Paths and don’t ever forget…Black Lives Matter.
Mike R