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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Enchantments reservations go online Monday

The Spokesman-Review Prussick Peak looms behind Deb Hansen and Rick Diffley, who secured permits with other Spokane Mountaineers well in advance of their trip to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
 (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review Prussick Peak looms behind Deb Hansen and Rick Diffley, who secured permits with other Spokane Mountaineers well in advance of their trip to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)

BACKPACKING -- Reservations for overnight permits to camp in the Enchantment Lakes Basin will be available only online beginning this year, starting Monday.

A popular destination in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, camping in the Enchantments from June 15-Oct. 15 is limited, and permits are picked by lottery each year.

Instead of hand-processing thousands of permits, the Wenatchee River Ranger District has changed to an online system, according to a news release. Applications may be filed beginning Feb. 28. Those who win permits will be notified beginning April 5.

The application fee of $5 per person, per day is the same, but an additional $6 will be charged per permit. Fees pay to administer the system and help fund wilderness rangers and other on-the-ground services.

Hikers can also access alerts and other recreation information through the reservation website. Applications require a profile and password, which can be set up in advance. Those without access to the Internet can call the reservation helpline at (877) 444-6777.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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