Heather Meadows, Wild Goose — Friday, Sep. 9, 2011

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

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)