Golden larches and Prusik Peak, Enchantments, Washington

© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motio

Enchanting indeed. Golden larches and Prusik Peak, Enchantments, Washington

Washington State's Enchantments region boasts more than 700 alpine lakes and ponds. Long before European settlers arrived, the Enchantments were home to Native American tribes such as the Yakima, Chinook, and Wenatchi. Waves of logging and mining in the 1900s transformed much of the landscape. Today, herds of mountain goats graze across the park, and ptarmigans roost in trees. The land undergoes transformation as the needles of the larch trees turn a shade of gold, casting a warm glow on the rocky terrain. Standing out in the Enchantments is Prusik Peak, a hidden gem among the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington's Cascade Range, which serves as a symbol of both its domain and the Enchantments. It's a wonderful site for experienced hikers and rock climbers, with a variety of climbs ranging from difficult to more common, attracting either skilled mountaineers or adventurers' intent on putting their skills to the test.