Park Butte — Friday, Jun. 9, 2006

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

Road snow-free to within 1/4 mi. of trailhead. Trail completely under snow. A notice says, ""Rocky Creek bridge"" is out. I'm not sure which crossing this refers to (Trail 603 or 603.1?). No bridge necessary on the lower crossing (Trail #603), a nice triple-log crossing just upstream from presumed bridge location. Also an adzed log crossing downstream from this but hard to reach due to snow. If the missing bridge is upstream at the Scott Paul Trail #603.1 crossing, we didn't go there. White-out conditions. Map & compass all the way to the lookout. Snow excellent, firm, no post-holing. Typical Cascade summit view. This trailhead is likely to be a zoo. Main access to south routes on Baker. There was a mountaineering class of over a dozen cars, perhaps 30-40(!) people, going up the Railroad Grade to the Easton Glacier. Also a snowmobile trail, unless I'm mistaken. We were spared.