Artist Ridge

Wanted to do this snowshoe hike for a long while. But gas prices and low clouds did not make this long trip worthwhile until now. The local weather looked good so I took a chance and made the 2 ½ road trip. I was surprised how clear the Mt Baker highway was all the way to the ski parking lots. Check http://wsdot.wa.gov/[…]/PassInformation.aspx#baker for road conditions. When I got to the parking lot, Mt Shuksan was out but Mt Baker was not :-( But there was lots of fresh powder to frolick. There are many boot/snowshoe/ski trails to Artist Point. Choose your trail but be careful that you do not follow the trails to Bagley Lakes which is one favorite of the backcountry skiers and you’ll end up a few hundred feet too low. Also be careful to stay to the right of the ski area where high speed snowboarders are coming down the groomed road. By roughly following the summer trail, you can shortcut the switchbacks of the summer road and climbing a few slopes. After about 2 miles, you will see a flat spot where the Artist Point parking lot is under 8ft of snow. You can continue eastward along the Kulshan Ridge. Lots of snow with only a few man made trails and you can watch the backcountry skiers below.