Took a break from the usual less-tramped and long day trips, and headed up to one of the prettiest places I've ever seen. It's a 2:30 drive from Everett to the Mt Baker lodge and Artist Point, if you take time off for a milkshake at that berry place near Glacier. Yum! By 12:30 we had an ""early alpine start"" from Artist Point. You won't be alone up here on a beautiful weekend. Mobs at the trailhead, even a forest service station for collecting those parking fees (if you don't have a volunteer pass or paid pass already). The trail is in perfect condition. And extremely easy. And full of scenes of Mt Baker's iced slopes. And full of scenes of Mt Shuksan's iced and rock slopes. Both are spectacular views. We went through quite a bit of Kodachrome 25 snapping off coffee table book view after view. We traversed around Table Mt and dropped down to Iceberg Lakes. Then spent a half hour dipping our toes in the water. More tripod shots past the lake of Baker and lake and lenticular cloud and tree and reflection... then a leisurely walk through more blueberry fields. Then some fun little scrambles on rock. Then topping out after a climb to a pass where the view changes from Mt Baker to Mt Shuksan. Wow! After a long stop at the pass capturing more images, we dropped down, halted by berries numerous times. In a field of rocks with substantial marble content, rocks to scramble, and a stupendous view of Shuksan, out came the stove. In went four ears of corn, then some instant dinners and hot chocolates for all. After an easy walk down to the road, I prepared for a jog up the 3 miles to get the car. But good Samaritans happened by at the perfect time. They offered to drive us back to the car at Artist Point. Lo and behold, this gave us time to watch the alpenglow develop on Shuksan. And up went the tripod for more exposures of warm lit glaciers of this incredibly scenic peak. At last, it was time to get the heck out of Dodge, time to go home and dream about superb views, good company, and milkshakes.

Mt. Baker Lodge Hiking 9/14 - 9/16/01 -------------------------------------------------------------- 9/14 Nooksak Falls ---------------------- Not a hike but a 4 star thunderous waterfall. Take the signed road 1/2 mile off SR-542 to the falls. It's about 7-8 miles past Glacier. Lots of parking. This one is bigger than Wallace and smaller than Snoqualmie. Even now at late summer low water time in a drought year this waterfall is spectacular. 9/14 Table Mountain ----------------------- I started up at 4pm from the Artists Point parking lot. The road ends here on a 5100 ft. ridge between Mts. Baker and Shuksan. A glorious alpine destination even in the parking lot. Four highly rated trails lead from this spot, Table Mountain (easy), Chain Lakes (moderate), Ptarmigan Ridge (strenuous), and Artists Ridge (very easy). And Lake Ann trailhead (moderate) is only 1/2 mile away. On this perfectly clear warm summer day Table Mountain promises and delivers wonderfull 360 degree views. For 1/4 mile the trail goes up moderately, then it changes to steep for 1/4 mile as it switchbacks up the east side cliff face of the mountain. Rough , rocky, with serious fall exposure here. The views of Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan and Bageley lakes get better right up to the top, which is a rolling plateau with tiny meadows, snow fields, little summits with cairns, a few tree clumps , and gurgling streamlets. The trail extends the east to west length of the plateau. It's also easy interesting walking off trail on the snow and rock. Clear skies and warm on this friday evening with very few people. 3 miles with 600 ft. gain. This is the shortest 4 star trail listed in Copeland's ""Don't Waste Your Time in the North Cascades"". It's not in the 100 Hikes series books. In ""Pacific Northwest Hiking"" by Judd & Nelson it rates 9 points on their 10 point aesthetic scale. 9/15 Lake Ann ------------------ We had 4 hikes heading out from the Mountaineers Mt. Baker lodge this morning, all on great trails packed with spectacular scenery. It was another clear warm sunny day. We all put on sunscreen and left our raingear and extra layers in our packs all day. My trail had the champion supply of huckleberries, we snacked berries on about 6 miles out of 8. A very heavy crop. The trail to Lake Ann goes down into a deep valley then up under cliffs to a ridge just a little above the lake. So you arrive at the lake having attained the same altitude you started with at the trailhead. Last year at this time the lake was ice covered with a turqouise ring around the edge. This year it was all melted and warm enough for wading and foot soaking. Also last years steep icy snowfield on the ridge just before the lake is gone. So the last 1999 snow has finally melted. We spent 2 hours relaxing by lakeside and eating lunch with Mt. Shuksan's glacier melt streams roaring in the backround and the mountain and it's glaciers towering above us. The middle sections of trail give teriffic views of Mt. Baker, Ptarmigan Ridge and Coleman Pinnacle. Shuksan is seen from a distance on the way in, disappears behind a ridge and reappears up close and gigantic as one tops the ridge just before Lake Ann. There were about 7 easy creek crossings and 7 or 8 dry creeks too. On the way in we encountered 2 families of Ptarmigan. 8 miles with 1800 ft. gain in and out. This trail rates 3 stars from Copeland and 9 points from Judd & Nelson. 9/16 Chain Lakes ------------------- Lake Ann is very good, but the 4 chain lakes far surpass it in beauty. I was surprised. And the huckleberries were almost as abundant. This was an easier route than yesterday for hikers with sore body parts and/or laid back plans for the day. Most of my group were photographers and we stopped for every conceivable ""Kodak Moment"". Many many photos since this trail has views the entire route with no forest cover at all. Views of Shuksan & Baker and the Baker lake valley below and other portions of the North Cascades. At 1 3/4 mi. we came to the lakes: a. Mazama lakes - 2 small lakes with good camping; in 1/4 mile more, b. Iceberg lake - big, blue with Table Mt. towering above; in 1/4 mile more, c. Hayes lake - blue, turquise, green, surrounded by little meadows, viewpoints, berry fields, with black volcanic, sand beaches and featuring warm swimmable water; and in 3/8 mile more around Hayes, d. Arbuthnot lake - small and just visible from the west end campsites on Hayes. Just like yesterday we spent 2 hours lunching and relaxing at the lake shore. And picking berries in a meadow just above Hayes lake loaded with prime eating. Autumn colors in the meadows and low bushes around the lake were very good. On the way back Pika's played for us in the rock slide just above Mazama lakes. We did 5 1/2 miles with only 500 ft. of gain. Rated 9 points by Judd & Nelson and also featured in ""Best Hikes with Children Vol. 1"" by Joan Burton. Robert MIchelson

One really couldn't ask for more from a fall hike than this easy, extremely scenic trail delivers. Unless one is looking for solitude, that is. There was a constant stream of families on the trail, many with dogs, and one with a hiking ferret on a leash!. The trail is very easy, with great views of Shuksan and Baker, lots of very sweet ripe blueberries, easily accessible snowfields for kids to play on, and relatively few bugs. We hiked in with our two small children and snagged one of the good campsites by Mazama Lake. Although quite small, this lake is big enough for a very `refreshing' swim. While the kids played and explored, the parents took turns visiting the remaining large, beautiful lakes.

Your typical spectacular day in the mountains. Clear skies, warm but not hot, lots of flowers (it's summer up near baker), but a few berries already. Lakes, glaciers, marmots, birds, caterpillars, butterflies, flies (not too many flies), and people, lots of people. Hikers, skiers, tourists, and more. I did a chain lakes/table mountain loop from Artist point. Folowed the chain lakes trail from Artist Point to Hayes Lake. All lakes are totally melted out; the trail is in good condition with some mud and a few tiny snow crossings. (Skip the one at the parking lot by heading all the way to your left.) It's flagged in some areas for repair too. Returning towards Ptarmigan ridge, I went up at the vehemently unmaintained Table Mountain trail. The first few hundred feet are blocked by fallen trees, presumably intentionaly left in place; after that, there's only one blowdown to go around and the trail is in great condition to a saddle below the high point of Table Mountain. The glacier drops into a lake at this point, beautiful blue water. People were skiing down the glacier and climbing down the rock; I climbed up the rock. Scary because it's loose, and a fall would be extremely unwise. From a closer look at the USGS map, it appears a gentle traverse of the glacier would work, though I don't have proper snow equipment. From there it's straight forward to all the people at the east end of Table Mountain, and a forest of cairns. The path back to the parking lot is not for those with vertigo.

Is it possible to hike in the Northwest for over 25 years and never do the Chain Lakes Trail' Yes, but don’t leave it for as long as we did. Of course, today was the loveliest hiking day of the year, and the ever-changing and ever-constant views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan were etched in their glorious detail. What we didn’t expect was the abundance of flowers. The trail is in great shape, the lakes are beautiful, and there is some snow around so that many of the creeks are still flowing. Catch the sunrise on Baker from Artist’s Ridge (above the parking area), then take all day for the Chain Lakes trail, so you’ll be leaving as the sun sets on Shuksan.