Hello! We're Trige, Lezli and Nala. We are avid hikers and have a goal to see every National Park in the lower 48. In April 2018 we sold our house and started the life as RV full-timers. You're invited to follow our adventures as we journey across the USA. Facebook:Buckeye Drifters Instagram:buckeyedrifters
You’re welcome! This is definitely a family friendly hike. Once you get to the lake, make sure you take the trail up the hill to your right. Maybe you get lucky and see mountain goats like we did. Enjoy NCNP, it’s one of our favorites!
Great work. The videography is fantastic. Surely, you had to return multiple times to retrieve your camera. The aerial shots fit right in (are those allowed in this park?). I particularly like the way you blended the music. Not in your face music, but easily missed if not paying attention - building suspense as you approached the target - then silence. Wow. I learned everything I need to know about the Comsmic Ashtray. I want to go. But, we're getting too old for a hike that long. Perhaps we could drive in most of the way?
@@esabzb thanks for the kind remark. Yes drone use is permitted. The national monument is managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) so flying is allowed. If you have a 4WD with decent ground clearance you can get much closer by driving the road that we walked. My guess is you can get to a distance of about a 1.5 mile (3 mile round-trip) hike to the Ashtray. There’s some sandy areas and a few dips that may have been troublesome for our CR-V. If you’re familiar with AllTrails, you may find some reviews of road conditions that gets you close to the Ashtray. The Visitor Center in Escalante would be another good resource on the condition of the road. We met some people parked close to the Ashtray that drove a 4 Runner on our return hike to where we parked. Happy trails!
We hiked the Enchantments almost 50 years ago when we were in our 20s. It was my first backpack. My future husband went ahead early in the hike to see how far it was to the campsite because I was struggling. When he didn't come back right away, I was on the verge of tears because I thought he had been eaten by a bear. It was that hike that awakened my urge to protect the environment, and when we returned home, we joined the Sierra Club.
The Enchantments will definitely make an impression on one. We’ve hiked countless trails during our 6 yrs of RV full-timing and it ranks at the top with our rim to rim hike. What a memorable day. Best wishes to you and yours!
What a beautiful morning to do some hiking the mountains are spectacular, the views are so beautiful to look at I love the purple flowers on the mountain side. Thank you for the videos you send very enjoyable
Nice. We have similar channels. I was up there for 12 days in July hiking. That trail was closed due to snow/ice in early July. Thanks for sharing. New sub 👍
I use Black Diamond Aluminum with rubber grips. Lezli uses Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber with cork grips. I recommend cork grips and carbon fiber. Hers are reasonably priced on Amazon.
I hope you can make it there someday! We winter in FL but we’ve made it a point to travel all the way to WA on two different occasions and we would go again in a heartbeat. That’s how much we like it there! Thanks for the kind comment and we wish you the best in your future adventures 👍.
You folks are amazing to complete that circuit in one day! As a teenager, our Scout troop hiked past Nada Lake to Snow Lakes. It kicked our backsides. The fishing was amazing at Snow Lakes. Thank you for sharing your Enchantments journey. I salute you both!
It really kicked my backside. Lezli could have finished it quicker than me as I was fighting a hip and knee issue going into the hike. The day on the trail has given a lasting joyful memory. A hike of a lifetime for us! Thanks for the kind comment 😊. Best wishes on your future adventures.
Wonderful video. The next best thing to being there. Thank you for your time and sharing with us. Liked and subscribed. One more thing, what was the approximate time of year where you there (in reference to the mosquitos)? Thank you.
Thanks for the kind comment. We were there at the end of July going into August of 2022. The bugs were a little pesky but we still enjoyed our adventures. Thanks for watching 😊.
I'm planning to do this in mid August but am daunted. You two are an inspiration and just exude goodness. Thank you for sharing your grit and adventure with us!
What a kind comment 😊. Daunting is a good word for this hike. We’re so glad we have the experience to look back on. You’ll make it, just prepare yourself physically for a long day. Best wishes!
All I can say is wow! Thats an incredible hike, all the lakes are gorgeous but man looks exhausting and extremely hard to do. One that I wish I could do but deep down I know its impossible for me. Well done guys!
Wow is right! We've hiked hundreds of trails over the last 6 years of our full-time RV adventure and this ranks in the top 2 of our most memorable hikes with our Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike being the other. The Enchantments was so hard but the beauty of the scenery kept us going. We appreciate the comment and wish you the best in your future adventures!
This hike and our Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike are the 2 most memorable hikes we've done. The Enchantments was very hard for us which made it so rewarding to finish. The scenery is beyond words. Thanks for the comment and happy trails!
Hello! The boulder field going around the lake aren’t as treacherous as it may look, however………the boulders going up Aasgard were spicy 🥵. Hope you’re able to do it!
@@BuckeyeDrifters Well I've been to Colchuck (mindblowingly gorgeous) but stopped there. We'll see if I can muster up the energy to make it all the way someday but unfortunately I'm getting lazy about hiking as I get older. Thanks for the response!
Did this on a Fall color day mid week pre-social media, truly one of the most scenic day hikes anywhere. Serious mental cleansing on a hike this gorgeous
Cutthroat Pass is another hike I did many times in days gone by. If you ever get back there again, I highly recommend that you follow the PCT northbound for about a mile toward Granite Pass. There's an easily scrambled up rock knob just above the trail shortly before it reaches the pass, marked as elevation 6990 on the topo map. You will find the views from there are truly mind expanding.
I did this very popular hike many times back in my hiking days, frequently with my wife. You were wise to start early when the open upslope is in the shade. Later in the day, it can get brutally hot and buggy.
What a beautiful hike! I am just now reading about the knee replacement, since I am watching your videos from oldest to newest. I hope you are doing well!
It’s an awesome hike to a BIG and beautiful waterfall! My knee is coming along well. We’ll be starting our 2024 adventures very soon. We still have a number of videos to share from 2023. Thanks for your interest 😊.
In the course of 30 years of hiking in the North Cascades, I did this trip numerous times. It's definitely one of the best day hikes around. The counterclockwise direction climbs a gently graded tread that was originally built to be part of the PCT between Rainy Pass and Maple Pass. The route was planned to extend from Maple Pass, down Maple Creek to Bridge Creek, but the idea was abandoned due to heavy brush and rough terrain. For years the trail ended at Maple Pass, with boot tracks extending up to what is now the high point of the loop trail. Years later, the trail was extended to follow the ridge above Rainy Lake, then steeply down through the forest to join the Rainy Lake Trail and complete the circuit. If energy or ability is limited, you can always return from the high point the way you came up, down the gentler grade, rather than taking the steep, hard on the knees way down above Rainy Lake. Either way, the scenery is sublime, especially around the 1st of October when the Fall colors are peaking, with the larch trees glowing gold.
Thank you for the wonderful information. The North Cascades has a special place in our hearts. I wouldn’t be surprised if we return again someday. Best wishes to you!
Wow! That's a hike for lithe people only I figure! I take it that the part of the slot canyon that features the best and most colorfully vibrant stripes is located AFTER that crux passage that you shimmied across...?
Quite the hike! 8mi doesn't sound all that bad, yet given the terrain, it really is an achievement to get it done and come out smiling like you did! Great job (also the footage)!
I can never get that far up but go at dusk cuz I live near there often. I see the condors flying with my binoculars. What was the ratio you think of Turkey Vulture to condor u saw flying in that one video clip in beginning of ur video
I assume they were all condors, they sure looked like it. We really lucked out having the closeup encounter like we did later in the video. It made the hike a very memorable experience. Thanks for the comment! Happy trails!
Next time try the Damnation Creek Trail. It leaves a tiny parking area along 101, south of Crescent City, and winds down a thousand feet or more of elevation to the rocky ocean shore. Halfway back up you'll realize how the trail was probably named.
Wow, that sounds like quite the adventure you had. We were there in early May of 2023. We lucked out with perfect weather. Thanks for watching and happy trails!
Great video great challenges , looks like fun and I am of proud both of you ! We still can !! : ) planning to do the same but do not know when if September or April. I am 75 and still can : ) . Take care now !!
Wow, 75 and still getting after it. What an inspiration you are to us in our early 60’s. You’ll enjoy the hike! Thanks for the kind remark and happy trails.
