Skyline Divide

This is a marvelous hike, well-worth the bumpy ride over 12 miles on the unpaved forest road. Just take it slowly -- an ordinary car can make it without difficulty; the road surface has no snow, but it does have a rough texture with occasional potholes. As of today, Thurs., Aug. 9, 2012, the trail up was essentially snow-free; up on the crest of the divide there are some patches of fairly soft snow, which were easy to cross. We brought ski poles and they definitely were worthwhile having. The trail goes up through beautiful woods, and offers the hiker a good stretch without being too taxing -- definitely a good choice for both children and seniors. (If you happen to be an athlete who can sprint all the way up, it's still worth it for the views). Ah yes, the views -- FANTASTIC! When we reached the top of the divide, we first took the trail to the left and explored the meadows and views in that area for about 20 minutes. Then we headed south, towards Mt. Baker, and walked perhaps a mile, skirting the first big knoll. One nice thing about this hike is that it's worth the effort even if one only climbs to the top of the trail; the views and abundant wildflowers in the meadows near the top are spectacular. From there, one can hike south up to about two miles, with ever-changing views along the way. But even if one doesn't go all the way to the southern end, it's still an unforgettable hike. As for bugs, there were a few, but they really didn't detract much from our enjoyment of the hike.