The morning fog provided drama to the views. But afternoon fog completely obscured the mountain.  Video in 4 parts

Part 1.  Part 2.  Part 3.  Part 4.

Blue sky day photos are often what gets posted. However, fog and clouds are often what you get and offer the opportunity to appreciate beauty at a different scale. All is good.  Love it all.

Happy Bunny Butte is the best named peak. Someone was having a good day when that name was added to the map.

Pretty trail, the scenery just pure beautiful. A bit scramble at the last bit, but the view justifies every step, actually you got the view from start to finish. So lucky to live in Washington state.

Got an early start on this Friday hike at 7:30 am. The trailhead had only about 5-6 cars in it at Artist Point, and when I went out on the trail I was almost immediately greeted by a Ptarmigan. Really cool to see on this hike especially. There are still some ripe blueberries hanging on, but not as many as a few weeks ago. I didn't see one other person on my way out. I ended up turning around at about the 4.2 mile mark. There were some wildflowers still blooming on the trail. I am not great at identifying them, but there were some pink, purple, white, and yellow flowers at different spots on the trail. The weather/clouds went back and forth on cooperating. The clouds would blow in and result in socked in conditions, and then they would blow out and leave these expansive views of Baker, Shuksan, and the surrounding peaks. There is still a small patch of snow to cross at about 3 miles from the trailhead, but really nothing too difficult. On the way back to the trailhead, I passed ~35 people in various sized groups, including some folks heading out for the weekend to backpack. They said once you got 2 miles from the trailhead, you could camp just about anywhere as long as you didn't harm the meadows. All in all it ended up being 8.3 miles, 1713 ft elevation gain, and I spent about 4 hours out. Stopped at picture lake on the way out and got a great clear picture of Shuksan from there. Amazing trail and amazing morning out. 

Monday the 16^th was a bright blue-sky day after several days of rain and grey, so the trail was busy. Ptarmigan Ridge is a favorite and easy hike, although there are some “rocky” sections. We started early and missed most of the crowds on the way up to Goat Lake. We saw some picas and marmots and several species of wildflowers.  At the lake there was a group of 5-6 campers, who were totally clueless. They had a large white Samoyed(?) dog. There was a small herd of mountain goats nearby, which the unleashed and out of control dog chased away. Near the lake and about 10 feet off the trail was a small solo ptarmigan chick; I hope the unleashed dogs didn’t destroy it. There were many hikers with dogs, and the majority of dogs were leashed or had excellent trail manners; in the afternoon, it seemed like everyone and their dogs were on the trail. When we were almost back to Artist point, two young women, with a boom box, blasting their music, passed us. We mentioned to them they could use ear buds. Due to the actions of a few, I won’t be hiking this trail during the summer.

An overnight to Goat Lake - my first time discovering this area. I'd hoped to spend a day going to the glacier, but the weather was not conducive. To say this area sees a high amount of use is an understatement - which is challenging for those of us who like to wonder at the landscape in solitude and quiet. But quiet can be found - I suggest stopping when you find you are along and listening - there is often burbling water activity under the ground and far-off mountain noses in the air. 

The trail: it's so good. It's so well-maintained. Kudos to the crews who keep it so. The stretch down from the main trail to the lake has a steep and slippery spot - I was fine with care and poles. There's another go-careful stretch down to the lake itself. It felt easy - if I'd have come in with the fog I had going out, I would've had a completely different tale to tell. 

The trail to Goat Lake is really special. A moonscape, a giant head-on view of Baker (if there's no fog), this oddly shaped lake, a small easily attained (or camped-on) ridge where you can swivel back and forth - Shuksan, Baker, Shuksan, Baker. Unfortunately, someone must have Instagrammed it, because at least 3 pairs of hikers would set up shots from across the lake and then call out to their subject to move slightly for the perfect shot, their voices echoing thru the lake basin. I'm all for photography as a way of wildernessing, but it definitely distracted from my experience. Go quietly, influencers, and leave no trace.....

The huckleberries. SO MANY. The little kind that make a perfect mouthful if you pick a handful, but it's hard because they are hiding and small. But miles of them, and yummy, and their fall color is coming in as well. 

The flowers. I saw a few? Definitely not the season, but there were a few stalwart holdouts worth photographing, and some fall berries, and several sweet-smelling foliages. 

Driving: civilization in the extreme. I got trapped behind a too-careful driver on Hwy542 and drove at a glacial pace all the way up to Artists Point. Coming down I had a scary experience of dodging an impatient driver who attempted to pass 5 cars on a non-passing stretch. Parking was weirdly easy - maybe I lucked out, but it seemed like on a sunday mid-day people were continually coming and going. Monday morning on my exit there was plenty of parking. 

Weather: I opened the car door and choked on the smoke. It was smelly and hard on the lungs, and the mountains had that awful washed-out dead look. I figured it would blow out by the morning, and I could get views on the way out. Right on one count, wrong on the other - clouds/fog were dancing and playing at sunset, but rolled in in earnest shortly after dawn, and in the morning I could barely find the trail out of the lake basin! It was mysterious and delightful, and lured me off trail at the halfway vista point - I kept going on the social trail because the fog was so dense I had no bearings, and carefully backtracked when I realized I was close to lost. I recommend checking the weather conditions - it's still wonderful and dreamy in the fog, but especially if it's your first time, you really deserve the views. 

Animals: Someone said someone said they saw a bear. I did not see a bear. I did see a grouse and one very fat marmot. I passed some birdwatchers who were very much hoping to see a ptarmigan; I don't think I've ever actually seen one! I saw many, many, many humans of all sizes, moving at all speeds, and of various levels of gear. 

I didn't track distance - but it's around 10 miles round trip to the lake and the elevation gain is nicely dispersed, a workout with a heavy pack but not a challenge.