North Cascades recommendation?

I'm headed to your beautiful state of Washington next week - I hope to get a walk-in permit for the Enchantments. If I'm unable to secure a permit, I am wondering what other areas you all might recommend that are reasonably close by? I will have all my backpacking gear, so a trip into the backcountry would be great. I plan to hang out near Leavenworth for at least 3 or 4 days to try and get the Enchantments permit, and then I'll move on if I am unsuccessful.

If anyone has any info or tips for some alternative trips, I would sure appreciate your suggestions! Thanks.

Jason

Good luck on the Enchantment permits. Might have a decent chance if you're there on a weekday but its slim pickin' on a Friday or Saturday morning. If you can't get a permit for the Enchantments zone, you could go for the Colchuck / Stuart zone and camp at Stuart or Eightmile Lakes, just west. Still plenty of larches in there, though obviously not nearly as scenic (but not many locations are).

Hi Jason,

I'll be in the lottery line next week also. Hoping that the larch trees will have developed good color by then but wondering if the warm weather we've been having in the Pacific Northwest will delay the Fall color this year.

Here's a report that might give us both some hope:
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2009-09-19.7677438693

Thanks guys, what has been your experience with the lottery line in past years? I was hoping that if I try for a mid-week permit, my chances will be good. I plan to arrive at the ranger station on Monday morning and then give it 3-4 days. If there are dozens of people vying for one of the 5 available permits each morning, it will sure be disappointing.

Greg, I'm thinking about switching my flight so that I arrive a week later. Have a good time next week and hopefully one of us will get lucky!

I've personally only tried on Friday morning due to my work schedule, but I've heard from many Enchantment veterans that if you're there on a monday or tuesday, you have a very good chance.

Jason,

I called the ranger station in Leavenworth not long ago and was told that best odds for the lottery was Tues-Weds.

If you have the flexibility you might be better off delaying your trip to the following week. I have read reports that give a range of best time for the larches in the Enchantments being last week in September to 2nd week in October, and I'd give most weight to those that say first week of October. I'd put off my own trip to the Enchantments except that I leave for Mexico on Oct. 7.

Also, a pro-photographer friend of mine emailed me to say that he couldn't see any color to speak of as he flew over the area yesterday morning on a cross-country flight. He did say that the huckleberry at Picture Lake/Mount Shuksan were looking very nice when he visited there a few days ago.

Thanks again guys. I rescheduled my flight for week of the 11-18th. Looking forward to it!

One more thing, permits are only required in the Enchantments thru the 15th of October, so you'll have a couple less days that you'll have to pay for.

Jason,

I think your timing will be good. See more in the Fall Color Reports thread.