A friend had his timeshare week at Snowater so Mt Baker from its various aspects seemed appropriate for a 3 day weekend.
Fri, Day One: Park Butte Lookout
Sat, Day Two: Hannegan Pass
Sun, Day Three: Skyline Divide
Drove from Seattle to the turnoff from Highway 20 a bit east of Concrete in full clouds. Drove up the road to the trailhead and maybe a mile before reaching Schriebers Meadow, clouds parted and sunshine poured down. I have not been on this trail in many years. It takes it time passing through meadows and on boardwalks in the flats finally approaching Rocky Creek. The crossing is a bit tenuous on a mix of larger rocks, a narrow log and then a plywood bridge. The water was higher in the afternoon and more muddy but still "rock hoppable". The kiosk sign warns it might be knee deep and challenging. After the creek it begins it very steady ascent passing through thicker forest and open meadows, then small stands of trees. Periodic and increasing view of Mt Baker up through the trees. Then views up through the open meadows. You will eventually see the lookup against the skyline and the trail circles around the back of a ridge. Access to the lookout is over a knarled tree truck and some rock.
The lookout's catwalk bridges open space on the Baker side. It is equipped with a coleman stove, bed, table, chests and chairs.
There were blueberries along the way, more in some places and none in others.
Remembered that hiking in bbq-ed air is not the most pleasant (I did the same the week before in Glacier National Park and drove home through 3 states worth of smoke). Smoke from eastern Washington fires was definitely in the air visually and you could taste it. After about an hour in the sun and haze we ambled on down to be met with rising fog levels - an indicator of what Saturday's hiking would be like. Fog down to the car now covered by moist dust. Drove around to Glacier, WA for the night.
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