September 21- Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
Stats: 18.1 km / 900m gain / 1596m high point / 5:35 hours MT
Yay! We finally got to cross the line and delve into the gorgeous and much missed Mt. Baker wilderness. All 19 of us! Our club hadn't done any hikes there since 2019 (thanks to Covid). What makes this hike unique, is that it starts by descending 230m into a hanging valley before climbing 325m to Lake Ann. Four of us hiked 2 1/2 km + 150m gain one way up the climbers path that got us closer to the Lower Curtis Glacier.
The trailhead is already 1467m high, bringing us into the alpines even before we started the hike. It's past the ski area, close to the end of the road that leads to Artists Point.
We had to split into two groups since the US has a policy that they don't allow more than 12 people on a trail at the same time. So the Chilliwack group & the Abbotsford group both left at 8:00am, meeting eachother at the lake.
This is the lowest part of the trail (1189m), by the headwaters of Swift Creek.
The autumn colors were not quite at their peak yet.
Looking back at Baker.
Almost there. Approaching the saddle above the lake.
Arrived.
Mt. Shuksan.
Group shot: Linda, Janice, Cindy, Carolyn, Don,
Front row: Maureen, Peter, Ann & I
Four of us on the climbers path, heading to the Lower Curtis Glacier.
We stopped here. Descending to the glacier would've taken too long when the other 5 hikers were waiting at the lake.
The blueberries were very sweet.
Heading back to the lake.
The two groups combined: Kim, Maureen, Minna, Johnny, Ling, Don, Joanne, Anita, Gunrun, Carolyn, Cindy, Denise, me
Front row: Ann, Tim, Janice, Peter, Linda & Cal
Group two headed back after this pic was taken. Since they had 3 newbies in the group and several that had never been in this area before, they did some sightseeing by Table Mountain at the end of the road by Artist Point parking lot.
Maureen's car load also started heading back. But the rest of us took our time, walking round the lake first.
Mt. Shuksan.
Climbing a bit higher above the lake so I could squeeze it into the photos with Shuksan.
Cindy soaked her feet and Peter took a dip! Good for you, Peter.
Last photo of the lake from the saddle.
Looking back at Don & Gundrun.
At the end of the valley, just before the climb through the forest on broad switchbacks, that leads to the parking lot.
Back in the car, we stopped by the ski area for this pic of Shuksan as seen from the ski area.
The famous Picture Lake.
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