Park Butte — Friday, Oct. 1, 2010

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

I made this journey with my ever-present hiking companion, my dog Harley. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to make this ascent. It was about 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We left the parking lot at about 10:45 and hit the lookout about 3 hours later. There were definitely other hikers present but not so much as to be a nuisance. Just some nice folks to say hello to and keep on trekking. As another hiker pointed out on the 29th, the bridge has been removed. There is now a warning sign at the trail head. It is completely crossable but just plan on either taking off your boots or hiking with wet feet. On the way in my dog and I jumped rocks about 15 meters downstream but be careful doing this, they're pretty slippery. On the way back we just walked right through it. It is quick moving and can sweep you off your feet so be careful. In addition to the mountains in the distance there are plenty of things to see up close. There were blooming flowers which I was unable to identify (my botany skills are lacking), some gorgeous mushrooms which I have been told are highly poisonous and meadows turning brilliant orange and red colors for the fall. There are also still plenty of perfectly ripe blueberries for the picking. Yum! The views are every bit as beautiful as the hiking guides claim they are. Words cannot describe it-- they must be experienced first hand. The trail is very well maintained and the lookout on top is no exception. It has been very well stocked with maps, reading material, a stove, a nice cot, and some chairs. All the luxuries of home! Heading down we took a detour to check out the snowmelt ponds throughout the meadows. There are small side trails you can take so you don't have to trample the flora. On the way up we heard a strange high-pitched whistling sound I couldn't identify. When I got to the top another hiker asked me if I had heard them and he didn't have an explanation for it either. On the way back down I found the answer: marmots! A family of 3 or 4 good sized marmots were keeping an eye on us from about 150 yards off the trail. My camera isn't the best but I managed to get a shot of one sunbathing on a rock. After leaving the parking lot at 10:45 we arrived back at the car just a little after 4:00. This gave us time to spend about 30 minutes at the top and do a little bit of exploring the meadows. The first half of the hike has a few nice streams for your dog to hydrate in and for you to dunk your head in. I drank a bit of water out of one and didn't get sick, but do so at your own risk. I highly recommend this hike to others. I'd place it somewhere between moderate and difficult do to a few steep sections towards the end.