Wild Goose #684.3,Artist Ridge #669

These are two short hikes you can take right from the Mountaineers Lodge on the Mt. Baker Lodge. If you aren't a Mountaineer, you can drive to the trail heads. Artist Ridge is at the end of the road (on top of the world.) It is a great spot to go first and get an overview of the area. You can see Ptarmigan Ridge, Lake Ann, Mountain Top and Chain Lakes trails. You can also view the ants (climbers) on Mt. Baker.

Artist Ridge is an open one mile over rocks and rock steps built by a giant. It was very hot the day I went. There are a couple benches, but they are close to the beginning of the trail.

Wild Goose is in a valley. If you continued up you would go into the Mt. Baker Wilderness. It is a pretty trail and in shade during the morning. The water was very low, but there were little lakes and a stream all the way. At the end, you can climb to the Visitor Center which is quite interesting. Then the upper Wild goose trail (2 steep miles) leads up to Artist Ridge.

Both trails were in good condition. Friends took Lake Ann and Ptarmigan Ridge and really enjoyed those trails, though they were bothered by black flies that bite. I heard the swimming was good at Lake Ann.

Sharon Trainer, Auburn