The Enchantments - Day 4

Day 4 was our final day of backpacking.  We got up, had some breakfast (oatmeal AGAIN!) and took some silly pics with mustaches!  Just as we were finishing up with the pictures a mama and baby goat came thru our camp.  This was the icing on the cake of an already epic trip!  We watched them parade around the perimeter of our camp while giddy with excitement.

This is the "coleman crapper" of the Enchantments

There were a number of porta potties along the hike.  People were encouraged to use them so that the goats would not scratch around getting the salt out of human urine!  Gross, right?

After watching the goats we headed out.  The hike was about 5 or 6 miles downhill and I thought it was the hardest part of the trip.  It was hard on my ankles and knees.  In fact I felt the stiffness 2 days later.  I had done lots of training for uphill but very little for downhill and you could tell.

Icicle Creek along the trail

This is the creek right close to the trail head.  We followed it all 15 miles down!

Crossing Icicle Creek below Nada Lake.  This was a big landmark on the way up.

Mama and baby

Baby following mama along the edge of our camp

Hiking out

This is where we stopped for lunch on the way out.

We stopped for lunch about a mile and a half from the trail head on some rocks on the side of the trail.  Although we were all anxious to be done on one hand, on the other hand it was so amazing we didn't want it to end.  In fact, Shannon wanted to figure out how to walk all the way back to Seattle so it wouldn't end.

Mama and baby walking away

Hiking out

There is a goat behind the tree behind me - that's why I have such a silly face!

Ninja campers

We noticed that Grace and Susan had the same height and similar build.  So we decided to dress them alike and see who could tell a difference.  When we showed the pic to Susan's sons, they didn't pick out the right one as their mom!  Who do you think is who?  Answer below.

Such diverse trails

Packing out

Strike a pose!

Time to leave Nada Lake

It is a tradition to have trail names and to name your packs.  See below for ours.

"Scooby"  (pack name was Shaggy)

"Amen" (pack name was Brown Suga')

"Cheese Whiz" (pack name was Violet)

"Animal"  (pack name was Kermit)

At the trail head coming out! Look at the people behind it heading in!

Hiking out

Grace and the goats!

Once we made it to the parking lot, we did Susan's family tradition of filming each person taking off their pack and doing a little celebratory dance!  It was hilarious to watch.  Then we headed off to see the fish hatchery that is fed by Icicle Creek.  Next up - celebratory Huckleberry ice cream and a Big Foot lunch box for Grace!

Celebrating with ice cream!

Answer - which Ninja is which?  Susan is on the left, Grace is on the right!