Colchuk Lake
Hindsight really is 20/20. I didn’t realize much of this until the next day when I was looking backwards at the trip and going … “Ah, that’s what happened”
I’m going to write this from the perspective of future Joy, becuase i am future Joy. Please take this as a reminder that not everything is clear in the moment and not every trip is perfect. It was still a beautiful day with gorgeous photos
I had made reservations at Eightmile Campground weeks in advance. It had looked like the road would be open by then by all trip reports and historical prescident. Colchuk is a ridiculously popular hike. I hadn’t done it in about ten years becuase I don’t love the drive, the parking, or the crowds. People come from all over the world to hike past it into the Enchantments or just to take in the awe that is this location.
Made it to Leavenworth and parked for lunchtime. I both love and hate what a tourist trap it is, but I get it. Americans from all over the country and people from all over the world visit every year, including me. Set up camp and settled down with my book and an early night sleep. I didn’t eat dinner becuase I just wasn’t hungry - at the time that did not register as a problem. It was a problem.
Eightmile Campground is quintessential Washington Campground. Ravens, deer, green trees, and the constant sound of a river
I didn’t eat breakfast. Rather, i made breakfast and ate barely four bites of it. At the time, I thought I was just anxious to get to the trailhead and I’d eat it later. I did not eat it later. It was a sign I should have noticed, but I did not
Apex Preditor. Watch your snacks.
I had completely forgotten about this lovely little spot on the way up. We always think about the amazing lake and forget about the little spaces along the trail
I realized that I hadn’t eaten anything around 5,000ft elevation which was about 1,700ft of hiking uphill and only about 580 feet from my destination. I ate a Luna bar and I was really struggling. I hadn’t felt that bad in a few years. Am I really this out of shape? No, I’ve done this kind of gain this year.
As soon as I got to this absolutely stunning lake, I found a rock to sit on right by the water. I pulled out lunch and two bites into my beef jerky my stomach said
I THROW UP NOW
And I’m like… What? No. No, we don’t throw up right now. Have some cheese?
I MEAN RIGHT NOW
Oh, tummy means throw up right now. I guess I should go find myself a bush away from the lake to try to leave no trace. I managed to barely choke it down. Had a little water. Swished my mouth out. And headed back down trail instead of spending an hour enjoying the lake. Becuase my whole system was absolutely not interested in food or water. On a hot day, that could turn emergency. I pulled out my Bolt Energy Chews and slowly ate one every ballpark 30min with a mouthfull of water. That mostly stayed down except for one more emergency stop off trail
I made it down okay. Nobody needed to call search and rescue. At the time, I thought it was the heat.
It wasn’t until I was driving home that I thought about what I was making for dinner - I’d bought a frozen pizza so that I had something available after the long hike and 3hr drive. And my tummy, which hadn’t eaten in hours said
I’M NOT EATING PIZZA
Instead, I had some plain white toast. That stayed down. A small cup of cottage cheese a few hours later also stayed down. Barely. The next day, my coworker was out with the stomache bug and another coworker said that my symptoms sound like what kept him home on Sunday. It wasn’t the heat, I just caught something that’s going down and maybe should have not gone hiking when I didn’t eat dinner or breakfast.
Life doesn’t always go perfect. I was absolutely miserable and it was still a great experience
Also - massive good job to the two young men who were heading up to the Enchantments with their big packs. You were awesome, you kept my spirits up, and I hope you had a fantastic time. May you keep hiking and I’ll see all y’all out there!!!
