Injured hiker heard yelling for 45 minutes on dangerous mountain pass, WA cops say
An injured hiker was heard yelling for help for about 45 minutes from a steep and dangerous mountain pass in Washington, deputies said.
Someone heard the person at 6:12 p.m. Aug. 11 from Colchuck Lake and sent a text to 911, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The yelling appeared to be coming from Aasgard Pass, which is above the lake, deputies said, and it went on until about 7 p.m.
Rescue teams reached the top of the mountain pass at about 11 p.m., and then went back down looking for the hiker, deputies said.
They found the 21-year-old from SeaTac about 900 feet up from Colchuck Lake, near the base of Dragontail Peak, deputies said.
He went up the mountain pass from the wrong area, deputies said. Then he injured his ankle and couldn’t make it down on his own.
Two rescuers stayed with him overnight until he could be hoisted from the area in the morning, deputies said.
He was hoisted to a nearby fish hatchery at about 9:20 a.m., and he refused medical treatment, deputies said.
“Aasgard pass is a difficult, dangerous climb and a through hike of the Enchantments should only be attempted by experienced hikers,” deputies said.
What to know about Aasgard Pass
The trek up Aasgard Pass includes an ascent of nearly 2,000 feet in less than a mile, according to the Washington Trails Association.
“Achieving the pass is a thigh-burning, chest-bursting, eye-popping endeavor that offers as many extraordinary views as beads of sweat,” the association said.
The pass is one way into the Enchantments, which is within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains.
The area is known for its stunning views, turquoise-colored lakes, rocky mountain peaks, meadows and mountain goats.
How do you get to Colchuck Lake?
The Stuart Lake Trailhead parking lot is about a 15-mile drive southwest from Leavenworth, a Bavarian-style village and tourist destination.
Once at the trailhead, it’s an over 4-mile trek to Colchuck Lake.
The challenging out-and-back hike is about 8.7 miles in total with an elevation gain of 2,342 feet, according to AllTrails.
The lake is icy and deep blue-green, making it a popular hiking area, according to the Washington Trails Association.
This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Injured hiker heard yelling for 45 minutes on dangerous mountain pass, WA cops say."
