Artist Ridge - Huntoon Point, Artist Point Snowshoe — Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

This trail report is for Artist's Point, 2 miles above Austen Pass near the Mt. Baker Ski Area. Perhaps not the trail you mean, but a worthy place to hike/ski/snowshoe to. Park at ski area. No one there. It's great. Follow any of a number of way trails (on 8-12"" snow), some booted down pretty good, or follow the now cat-tracked road eastward, and upward, toward the Lake Ann trailhead. From that junction pick a route to the top of the ridge. Either follow the snow covered road, strap on snowshoes and head up cross-country, or find and hike your way up one of the early boarder's trails. Unless with a friend, consider all of this terrain absolute backcountry and take appropriate measures. Top of the ridge: Untracked snow. 15"" of incredible, paper thin crystals that tinkled when touched. Snowshoeing swoosh heaven. All alone with Monarch Mt. Shuksan and Komo Kulshan - great white watcher. Careful, hikers. The time between sunset, dusk, twilight and darkness is growing ever shorter.