Aasgard Pass, Mountain pass in Cascade Mountains, Washington, United States.
Aasgard Pass, officially Colchuck Pass, is a 7,841-foot saddle in the Cascade Range between Dragontail Peak and the Enchantment Peaks. It drops northwest to Colchuck Lake at 5,570 feet and rises southeast to the Upper Enchantment Basin at about 7,500 feet, inside the Alpine Lakes Wilderness southwest of Leavenworth.
The pass appears on USGS maps as Colchuck Pass, its official name. Proposals to change this were rejected by the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1967 and again in 1988. Climbers long called it Aasgard Pass, a name favored by Fred Beckey and likely coined by Bill and Peggy Stark, who explored the Enchantments in the mid-20th century.
The name comes from Norse mythology, likely coined by Bill and Peggy Stark, who explored the Enchantments in the mid-20th century and replaced many names given by topographer A. H. Sylvester with Norse ones. Climber and author Fred Beckey preferred Aasgard Pass, though USGS maps still label it Colchuck Pass.
The trail is steep and narrow, requiring hikers to have mountain experience and proper gear before attempting the crossing. Weather conditions change rapidly at this elevation, so planning and preparation are essential for a safe visit.
The name Aasgard Pass is unofficial: the US Board on Geographic Names rejected renamings in 1967 and 1988, so USGS maps still label it Colchuck Pass. Climbers long used the Norse name, favored by Fred Beckey; Bill and Peggy Stark likely coined it while exploring the Enchantments in the mid-20th century.
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