I had tried to hike this trail a few days earlier but a high altitude lightning storm forced me to turn back. I went back a few days later with my wife and the weather was gorgeous. Everywhere you looked there were waterfalls and the sight of much snow on the nearby mountains was really neat. We parked at the Heather Meadows overflow parking where the trailhead starts. There's a few trails here and most intersect each other so you can do a combination of hikes, which is what we did. We started out on the Bagley Lakes Trail and took the Chain Lakes Trail up to Herman Saddle where the trail was covered in snow and became difficult to continue (Note: Bagley Lakes Trail was snowfree). We stopped about halfway up to the ridge and turned around and came back down and had a picnic lunch on a large rock overlooking Mount Shuksan and Bagley Lake. I bouldered around a bit and crossed a stream to a large snow covered hill and tried to slide down on my butt but the snow was too wet. Then I had to boulder back up to get my backpack. Another hair brained idea. My wife was laughing so hard. We took the Chain Lakes trail back and decided to take the Wild Goose Trail back to the parking lot. Wild Goose Trail has an easy initial climb to the visitor center which was closed for the winter still and then proceeded through pine forest where we saw a woodpecker. We plan to go back in the fall and hike this again and complete Chain Lakes Trail.

ARTIST RIDGE - HUNTOON POINT: Excellent condition. For as many visitors as this trail sees, the litter was very minimal. Lots of "Meadow Repair" signs, yet that still doesn't stop some knuckleheads. Great trail for people of all abilities. BAGLEY LAKES LOOP: Great trail for families! This loop is begun from Heather Meadows Visitor Center. The side closest to the visitor center is very smooth and easy walking. The far side is a bit more technical, roots and rocks with several small streams to cross. A little muddy, too. Amazing views of Table Mountain and the Bagley Lakes. Crossing the arched stone bridge at one end and a very old dam at the other would be fun for kiddos...just hang on the the little hands! Fall colors are amazing; obvious bear sign in the area, but only birds actually seen. PICTURE LAKE: Paved ADA accessible loop around the perfectly placed Picture Lake with its amazing view of Mount Shuksan. Lots of benches to sit and gaze in wonder at the beauty. FIRE AND ICE: A short, easy "Interpretive" trail however there was not a single sign that provided any information (I was bummed); not even a trailhead sign. Perhaps they are removed for the winter? Lots of stone and metal things that look as though they would hold a sign. Also leaves from the visitor center. Nice little loop for kids. Great view of Table Mountain and the Wild Goose trail. WILD GOOSE: This end-to-end hike goes from the Artist Point parking area to the Heather Meadows Visitor Center. It is in great shape, and if you hike it regularly, you will be in great shape too! It's about 1,100' of elevation gain or loss, depending on where you park. I parked at the top and hiked down, did Fire and Ice, then hiked back up again. As I descended, I was watching the dark clouds moving in, but the weather remained great. The trail is in good condition and marked by permanent stone cairns with a flying goose plaque on them. It took me a minute to figure out what it was, DUH! There is part of the trail that is made up of approximately 150 steps. I will just say that with wear and tear and weather, they are a BIG step up for someone just over 5 feet tall! Halfway down there is a side trail that will lead to the Swift Creek (600) and Lake Ann (607) trails. I'll save those for another day..... Had my dog with me so I could not hike Table Mountain as dogs are prohibited on that trail. Next time. Summary: Wonderful day of hiking; amazed at the number of people up there. Chatted with a few; everyone pleasant even if they didn't heed the "Meadow Repair" signs. Would love to see signage at the Fire and Ice trail. The privy at the top.....DISGUSTING, I'd rather pee outside. I think some people interpret the "Don't throw trash into the toilets, it is very difficult to remove" signs to include toilet paper. A trash can in the bathroom may help.

We set out on an impromptu hike of Skyline Divide trail but were run off the mountain by BUGS! We had no bug repellant with us (poor planning) and just could not tolerate the clouds of mosquitos and biting flies that we encountered in the first 4 switchbacks. We beat a hasty retreat and drove to Heather Meadows (Plan B), hoping to walk the trails at Artist Point. We arrived to find Healther Meadows (ski area)completely melted out with wildflowers running riot across the meadows. We headed up the final 3 miles of paved road toward Artist Point only to find the gate closed at the first switchback. So...plan C...we parked at the dry paved parking lot near the Austin Pass Picnic Area and the Heather Meadows Visitors Center (built by CCC in 1940). Visit the center 10AM - 4PM Mid-July to late September. From the parking lot, views of Bagley Lakes and Mazama Dome. The bowl below Mazama is still snow-filled, but the gentle slopes invite tubing and sledding - there were a couple of folks with plastic discs sliding down the hill. I'm not sure what they would have done if they would have slid into the large snow-melt pond at the bottom of the hill but the day was hot and sunny and they were having a great time. Pick up the Wild Goose Trail from the parking lot (obvious on the hill to the left of the snow-melt pond). The trail is mostly dry with a couple of exposed snow patches (these will probably be gone in a few more days of warm weather). In a couple of hundred feet you will hit a snowfield that will probably persist into winter (shaded most of the day). Rock scramble/boulder hop up the hill about 30 feet to the (closed) road surface. Basically, you will alternate walking the Wild Goose trail, crossing snow fields and walking the road to Artist Point uphill. (The path is boot-beaten across the snow patches - but very obvious - uphill south/southeast from the parking lot). Look back down at your car and across the valley to Mt. Shuksan. Turn 180 degrees and look across a snow patch at the clear dry Wild Goose Trail (marked with permanent stone carns with metal Canada Goose signs.) Observe the steep stairs that are the final stretch of the trail to the Artist Point parking lot. Then start up, up. At the top of the stairs you are in snow. There is at least 8 feet of snow covering the Artist Point parking lot - the roof of the bathroom is exposed about 3 feet. Stay well back, the snow is melting around the buildings and appeared to be under-mined a bit. Safe snow-wandering about. The snow was firm enough to walk in hiking boots with not much sinking in. Exposed areas of the Artist Point trails are melted out and provide a bit of relief to snow-tired calf muscles. Great views of Baker and back to Shuksan as well as many other peaks (take a good topo map to identify them all.) There was a fair amount of haze in the late afternoon so views to the east of the rest of the North Cascades Range were limited. Return to your car the way you came, but be careful descending the snow fields. Some areas are safe for a short glisade but for the average weekend hiker I'd recommmend taking trekking poles to avoid an unexpected sledding adventure down a hill. The rock scramble is also a bit more difficult on the way down. If you are unsure, walk down the closed road - it looked to be passable for pedestrians - just some easy snow patches to cross. You could access Artist Point this way just as easily. This hike is probably safe (and exciting) for older kids. Probably a bit much for the short-legged crowd until more snow melts. Lots of good views and snow play fun at the parking lot for the little ones. Remember to watch for unsafe snow bridges if you decide to cross the snow fields. All in all a great hike with lots of rewards. (And far less bugs than Skyline)