Backpack - The Enchantments

***THIS TRIP IS DEPENDENT ON GETTING A PERMIT*** (see below).

This will be a five night/six day trip for upto eight folks in the Core Enchantment Lakes Zone.  I have not set the route or itinerary as of yet.  I have backpacked in this area twice and know the main areas well.  We will enter and exit via Asgaard Pass (a very steep ascent/descent).  Likely we will initially set up camp between Isolation and Inspiration Lakes the first two nights.  Later in the trip we will spend a day or two north of Prusik Pass and visit both Cannon Peak and Shields Lake--areas new to the leader.  Participants will need to be flexible on the route and comfortable and experienced in off-trail travel.  Participants need to have successfully completed a five night backpack trip within the past year.  There are other requirement-see below.

Special Leader Permission:

This trip requires one person in the group to be lucky enough to procure the coveted Permit for the Core Enchantment Zone for the dates listed for the trip--Sept. 30 to  Oct. 5, 2025.  I will review and accept permission requests from all that want to apply (and do the lottery) for this permit.  This approved list could be long, well beyond the group size limit of eight.  All folks approved to join the trip are required to apply for "the lottery" for a Core Zone Enchantment Permit .  [You can now add three start dates to seek to get your permit].  So please use the start dates of Sept. 29, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1st} and group size of eight (8) & Core Enchantments at the "entrance" zone.  I will adjust the trip to match these dates if that date is chosen.  Unfortunately not all will apply will be able to go.  However, if you have been given approved for the trip and gain a Core Zone Enchantment Permit, you may join the trip in the first participant spot.  Others high on the list and leaders will take the remaining seven spots.

Leader Permission Requirements to be approved to potential join the trip are the following.  Please answer each question or concern.

1)  I have successfully completed a backpack trip of five nights or longer in the past year. Yes or No?  Please list these trips and dates.

2)  I have successfully completed a backpack trip of two days or more in the past year that had a one day ascent of 4,000' or more. Yes or No?  Please list this trip. If your answer is No, please explain other backpack trips that demonstrate challenging elevation gain or plans you have for being in condition to ascent about 4,300' the first day of the trip (Isolation Lake from Colchuck TH) carrying six days of food.

3)  I have backpacked with this leader before on trips of three nights or longer.  Yes or No? Please list these trips.  If not a three night trip have you backpacked at all with this leader?

4)  If you have not backpacked with this leader, please provide a Mountaineers Backpack Leader for reference regarding your conditioning for a six day trip and pleasantness as a participant.

5)  This trip will incorporate significant off-trail travel and route finding.  This travel will not be overly challenging or have significant exposure or safety worries.  I have experience and comfort with this form of travel.  Yes or No?  Where have you travel off-trail?

6) This trip will incorporate daily plans and routes that are subject to change, due to terrain  and conditions discovered in the field.  Additionally the campsites (particularly north of Prusik Pass) are not all known or assured to be great.  I can be flexible and go with the flow with what we encounter and am comfortable with adjusting plans as we proceed.  Yes or No?

7)  I am available on the dates of the trip and if selected for the trip and am the lucking one to get a permit for the Core Enchantments, I will go on the trip and let the leaders and others join under my permit.  I will let Rob Erickson, be the Primary Leader and follow all Mountaineer protocols and have the trip be a Mountaineers trip.  Yes or No?

8) I have applied for the lottery to Recreation.gov permit for a Core  Enchantments Zone for the date Sept. 29, Sept 30 and Oct.1, Group size of 8.    Yes or No?  Please list the receipt number.  

I will respond back to all applicants on or before Feb. 25th on whether they meet the qualifications to be on the list to potential join the trip.  See below for the criteria I will use to select the actual participants.

All potential participants need to register for the lottery for a Core Zone Enchantments Permit Lottery. There is a $6 non-refundable fee. The registration window for the lottery is Feb 15th -March 1st.  You do so here:

https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233273

Here are all the rules for the Enchantment Zones:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5405903

Ordering of participants:  Once I have received your application for this trip, I will approve or disapprove based on the questions asked above.  The lottery results are due back March 17th.  Please inform me if you are a lucky winner and send a copy of the confirmation letter.  Short after that time (about the last week in March) I will set an order for participants in the Mountaineers Website.  This will determine who is on the trip as leaders, participants and the waitlist. 
For the large approved group I will order folks in the participant listing with the following criteria--in order of importance:

-Approved Leaders for the group--2 people

-The person(s) that got the permit(s) if approved for the trip.

-Folks that have the most recent experience backpacking this challenging type of trip--those most likely in proper condition

-Folks that will make the most compatible group--those I have backpack with before and trust or those having a strong recommendations from other leaders.

I will add folks to the official trip list and inform each of you by the end of March.

I hope you can join me and I hope can get a permit to make this trip happen.  The Enchantment Lake is a special area.  It is a $6 gamble in the lottery, but oh so worth it, if you get to come.  Rob

Lake Colchuck TH.  More information to follow.