September 4 , 2011
Artist Point, one of our favorite spots in the Northern Cascades is inaccessible. A massive snowfall during the year plus a cold Spring/Summer slowed the melt so much that the last couple of miles and the parking lot have remained unplowed. I suppose it was hardly worth the expense for a couple of weeks, as the snows usually begin in late September or October. We decided to go as far as we could, which turned out to be Heather Meadows and Austin Pass and it was well worth it.
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We began with a walk around Picture Lake at Heather Meadows.
   
     
   
     
Here's the ever-picturesque Mount Shuksan.
 
     
   
     
There are many pretty views of this mountain.
   
     
   
     
Here's what it looks like facing the other way.
  
     
   
     
From there we continued up to Austin Pass (the end of the road).
  
     
   
     
There's a network of trails just off the road so we hiked along a few of them today.

     
   
     
The snow was so hard that I could walk on top without leaving a dent.
 
     
   
     
A number of small lakes glow like jewels in the sunshine.
   
     
   
     
Tim is standing on the edge of a rock with a sheer, steep drop. Me, I'm cowering well back!
 
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