The North Cascades and Mt. Baker

After a brief stay in Everett, WA to change the oil in the Honda, resupply, and wash two weeks worth of dirty clothes (yes, we still have to do some chores...) we headed north on I-5 and exited Washington State Route 20 (the North Cascades Scenic Highway).  We happened upon Rasar State Park and it was a great find -- secluded, well maintained and very pretty. Rasar is right on the shore of the Skagit River and in the shadow of Mt. Baker, one of the better known peaks in the Northern Cascades.

 

Skagit River at Racer State Park - color is from glacial 'flour' suspended in water

 

There were many trails at the campground, most of them leading to and around the Skagit River. The Skagit River is the only river in Washington that you can see all 5 species of salmon (coho, chum, sockeye, pink & silver). They use the river, its tributaries or the nearby lakes to spawn depending on the species preference. We didn't see any salmon but one of the rangers told us she had seen sockeye in the Skagit just a few days ago.

 

David and Maya appear 'tiny' in the shadow of the sentinels

 

On Wednesday we headed a short distance to the Mt. Baker – Snoqualamie National Forest.  We hiked the Shadow of the Sentinels, a half mile interpretive trail, that has been designated a National Recreation Trail.  The trail meanders through a beautiful old growth forest with 600 year old Douglas fir. We have been through several old growth trails and this one had the best interpretive signage.  It was also quite beautiful.

 

View of Mt. Baker from Scott Paul Trail

 

After the Shadow of the Sentinels Trail, we drove a short way down to the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area to take a trail that climbed up near Mt. Baker.  The Scott Paul Trail started to climb immediately from the trailhead through Douglas fir, Pacific Silver fir and Hemlock.  It was a steady climb and the day was very cool and cloudy so we actually welcomed the effort.  It kept us warm.  About 2 miles in we hit some snow patches.  We stopped to lunch in a small meadow with what would have been a great view of Mt. Baker if it hadn’t been for the clouds.  We saw most of the lower half of the mountain with a good view of the Squak Glacier, but no view of the top.  Maya went wild playing in the snow – running in circles and slipping and sliding every which way.  It was pretty funny to watch…

After lunch and corralling our dog we hiked another 1.5 miles to just below the timberline before heading back down.  The alpine meadow was filled with lupine, monkey flower, flea bane and countless other wildflowers.  Many were just beginning to bloom as spring was late this year in the Northwest.  Although we didn't get a clear view of the top of Mt. Baker, it was still a very fine hike.