A hike up to Colchuck Lake

The bottom of a waterfall just below the lake

Erin and I hiked up to Colchuck Lake on our last day before breaking camp and leaving ("Colchuck" derives from the Chinook language, meaning "cold water" -- very appropriate). It's in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Northern Cascades, accessible by a fairly grueling 8.2 mile round-trip hike, which may not sound like a lot, but with the 2,200 feet of elevation gain over 4.1 miles of rocks, roots, boulders and scree (mostly at the top half of the hike), it easily felt like twice the distance. The reward was the unparalleled views up at the mile-high Lake:

Colchuck Lake's cobalt waters (as "blue as Paul Newman's eyes," according to Erin)

Another view of the granite bathtub called Colchuck Lake

The snowy Enchantment Peaks

Erin amidst the boulders

The bridge at Mountaineer Creek:

Colchuck Lake:

A well-deserved (and anonymous) rest back at our campsite