Saturday, August 11, 2012
Known fondly as our 'annual pilgrimage', last year's trip to Heather Meadows and Artist Point never happened. There was so much snow that the road to the top wasn't plowed. Having learned last week that this year was all systems go, we gleefully set out for a great trip to the top of our world.

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With one-track minds we headed straight to the end of Mount Baker Highway and the parking lot at the top.
Whoa Nellie, look at that snow!
 
 
   
   
I couldn't see the trails at all.
 
 
   
   
Still shrouded in mist, Mount Shuksan peeped at us from behind a huge snowbank.
 
 
   
   

Table Mountain fared a little better but the trails looked treacherous.
 

 
   
   
Ahhhhh - there is the glorious Mount Baker.
 
 
   
   
Undaunted, I slogged my way across the snowfield towards the lookouts at the edge.
 
 
   
   
Tim kindly gave me directions from the top of Snow Mountain.
 
 
   
   
On Mount Baker's hillsides were snow fields, some of them dotted with Mountain Goats.
The snow fields are over a mile away so I am flabbergasted that the goats even showed up in my photos.
 
 
   
   
There are so many wonderful views from the trail around the edge (which was still snow-covered today).
 
 
   
   
Mount Shuksan is a very photogenic mountain.
   
 
   
   
Down, down, down we go, headed for Austin Pass where we will eat our lunch.
 
Our 'usual table' is in use so we are forced to find another.
 
 
   
   
This one has a lovely view too, and even a couple of (camera-shy) chipmunks as lunch guests.
 

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