Started hike by having to take 1/4 mile detour over stock bridge because of foot bridge washout over Sulphur Creek. Lots of flies and gnats that swarm around you anytime you stop for a break for the first 2 miles or so. After you break out of the forest the bugs aren't too bad. Trail was in good condition. Large patches of snow in upper Morovitz Meadow with snow on parts of trail going up to Park Butte Lookout. The ridge trail up Railroad Grade was snow free all the way past the base of the Easton Glacier on Mt.Baker.

Trail is in good shape. There were only a few blowdowns to deal with and only a few patches of snow remain.

We spent three wonderful days with our good guys (three year old twins) up on the Railroad Grade. It's not really wilderness, but it sure is one beautiful playground. The weather was perfect and there were zero bugs. There are a limited number of designated campsites, but most folks only stayed one night, so even on a holiday weekend sites were always available. There were an awful lot of doggies up there; we agree that this area should be in a national park .

Trail takes you high up the west side of the Easton Glacier on the south side of Mt. Baker. (to approx. 7000 ft.) Imagine Paradise on Mt. Rainier without the parking lots, people, and man-made structures. We watched the full moon rise to the east as the sun was setting to the west, and then at dawn watched the sun rise as the moon set to the west. You can see every peak in the Cascades from Rainier north. Twin Sisters dominate the view to the west. Fun to hang out with climbers going to and coming back from Baker's summit. Water is scarce - pack it in or be prepared for a hike down into the little valley west of the Railroad Grade to find the tiny creek. It's about the third or fourth creek bed over. Marmots whistled all day, saw a few goats on peaks to the southwest on the hike in. Seemed like everyone but us brought their dog. This place should be in a National Park, thus preventing Rover and Fido from scaring the wildlife away.

The North Cascades - This was one of the most spectacular backpacking trips I have ever been on. This area is in the Mt Baker National Recreation Area an the south slopes of Mt Baker. When we started on Thurs afternoon there were 15 cars in the parking lot however only crossed paths with 10 people in the three days we were there. We hiked up the Park Butte trail an camped at Cathedral camp for 2 nights. After dinner we took an easy stroll up to the Park Butte lookout tower. The view of Baker, Twin Sisters, and the entire North Cascade range was breathtaking. The next day we went up the Railroad grade. This trail runs along the narrow crest of a huge lateral moraine along the recent path of the Easton glacier. After 1 mi the true path peters out. One could continue on to the summit of Baker but not this lard ass, flower sniffing hedonist. We instead cut to the northwest cross country through moraine and meadow to the spectacular canyon carved out by the dramatic Deming glacier. The photo ops abound. We then traversed flower filled meadows to secluded Mazama lake. The cross country treck back to Baker pass was somewhat difficult but we lucked upon an unfinished (abandoned') trail that took us right to the pass. The next day we hiked out on the Scott Paul trail. This trail ascends 900 ft along the Easton glacier valley and then traverses a dozen or so beautiful lush meadows full of flowers. Wonderful views of Baker and the North Cascade peaks persist for at least 2 miles. Just after the trail begins to decend, a grassy meadow allows one last view of Baker and the one and only view of Mt Shuksan. The trail then decends a beautiful old growth forest of Mountain Hemlock and Silver Fir. The Scott Paul is one of the best built trails I have ever seen. When we arrived back to the trailhead on Sat afternoon there were at least 75 cars in the lot however we only crossed paths with 2 groups of people all day (they must have all been on the Park Butte trail). There were no Black Flies and mosquitos were only a problem around sunrise and sunset. The snow had all melted out weeks ago.