Arrived at the trailhead around 6:20 AM, and a handful of parking spots were still available, but most were taken by the overnight campers. First stop was the Park Butte Lookout. The initial stretch of trail was a gentle warm-up, a flat and easily navigable path through the forest and meadow.
The first river crossing wasn't too difficult. The water level was low, and a few well-placed logs a bit upstream provided a dry path across. The second crossing had a bridge, making the main section simple, though a bit of rock hopping was needed on the other side to regain the trail. The rest of the route to the lookout was straightforward and not overly demanding, offering a pleasant and steady climb.
Reached the lookout to find just two people remaining from the night before, giving solitude to take in the spectacular views. After the customary photos and a moment to soak it all in, began the trek toward the Easton Glacier via the Railroad Grade trail.
Turning onto the Railroad Grade, the trail immediately transformed into a series of rocky steps before becoming a steady dirt path. The views along this section were incredible, with Mount Baker dominating the skyline and the glacier stretching ahead. We passed several friendly marmots basking in the sun before making it to Sandy Camp.
Took a break on the rocks before continuing the climb up through the various camps to the trail entrance of the glacier. The higher I got, the more vast and impressive the landscape became. After one more moment to sit and appreciate the immense scale of it all, we began the descent back to the car.
On the return trip, the day's heat had significantly raised the river levels, turning the once-simple crossings into a wet-shoe experience. While still manageable, it's a good lesson that an easy morning crossing can be much more challenging on the way back.
Stats: 13.4 miles, 4,521 ft vertical, 6:56 total time with almost 2 hrs of stops throughout the day.
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