| Author |
Topic |
|
Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2005 : 09:55 AM
|
As this weekend was supposed to be ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!!!, Cali and I decided to finally do Chain Lakes at Mt Baker. We thought Minou (KariAnn) would be an appropriate victim to bring along for our adventure, so the three of us set off at the Bagley Lakes Trailhead at 0930am on Saturday morning.
Since I didn’t have $4 to purchase a trail map, we were hiking blindly for most of the trip. The little trail inset map from the park newspaper was not very helpful at all and there were so many trail options at several points that we were completely clueless about where we were going. We probably asked about three different people for directions and to make sure we were on the right track. For a long while, we were the only ones out there and gave up trying to figure out where we were going. We decided that wherever we ended up would be just fine. Kari Ann teased that “getting out with Charlene is always an adventure and you’re always guaranteed to get lost.” I couldn’t argue one bit . I just told her that, yes, it’s true, but at least you always get the ‘adventure’ that I promise!
The trail started out nice and mellow and we thought..hmm, this isn’t so bad and definitely easier than Lake Ann. Then we started to climb, and climb on these really long switchbacks. I think at this point we were travelling along one side of Table Mtn. and climbing the “Saddle of Mt Herman??” That was the most challenging part of the day for all of us. Cali was not a happy boy for part of that journey. He trooped along ahead of us for a good portion of it…he was going quite fast and I think he got discouraged when it appeared that the uphill was never ending. He finally realized that getting mad and walking uphill until he passed out was not the best way to do things, so from then on, we went for a bit, took a break, went for a bit, took a break and so on.
  
Once at the top of the Saddle, we could see the lakes below. I think one was Iceberg and the other Hayes??
We lunched at Iceberg Lake as there were lots of folks at the other one. We had it all to ourselves! Continuing on, we passed Mazama Lake and a few others (yes, I'm clueless).
  
 (view from our lunch spot)
 (departing our lunch spot)
Once we got close to Artist Point, there were lots and lots of people on the trail, so it was nice to get out of there!
Wondering if someone can tell me what distant mountain this is? I know that the lake in the distance is Baker Lake, but is the mountain Mt Rainier?
 
From Artist Point, we got onto the Wild Goose Trail and made the trek back down to our car (the knees were complaining when we did the wooden stairs).
 
Highlights of our day:
**We heard a piercing noise and Cali said “look!” and just as I looked up, a hawk flew right over Kari Ann’s head on a mission. Couldn’t figure out what it was chasing, but there were a couple of other little bitty birds flying around as well. Very cool.
**The blueberries were freaking tremendous! OMG, we all ate many berries, but I was the biggest pig of them all. They were absolutely huge and juicy and there were so many of them, it was amazing. Literally fields of blueberries in some spots. Obviously, the people and critters missed large portions of this trail altogether. YUM.
  
**Kari Ann needing to pee so bad while we were climbing the Saddle, that she decided she couldn’t wait any longer….Unfortunately, that whole section is wide open and there are no trees to hide behind. We looked around and thought the coast was clear on both ends. As Cali and I wandered up ahead to give her some privacy, I heard her squeak and say “oh great..there are about 20 people right there looking at me!” Right then we hear a whistle and some shouts and laughter from afar…and sure enough, we had completely missed a large group of folks that had been lunching on the rocks! They were far enough away that you couldn’t see faces, but close enough that they could see a person squatting to do their business…so it was a little embarrassing when we walked by them a few minutes later! Sorry Kari…it was pretty funny! Teehee.
**After being out for about 7 hrs, I realized that I had forgotten to put my parking pass in the window and was dreading a ticket, but at the Visitor Center, we saw a sign that Sept. 24 was “trail day” or something like that, so parking was free! WHEW.….
What a beautiful trail and equally beautiful day! Too many people for my liking in sections, but we had been warned. I’m glad we did this one..thanks for joining Kari Ann!
Beautiful mountain views:
   
Some more scenery:
     
 (see the moon in this picture)
 (looking back to where we had been)
  (not sure if this is the Wild Goose Trail or Fire and Ice)..getting closer to the car!
And of course..the victory dance at 5:30pm...Yes, it was an 8 hr day!
Not sure if we did the 8 mile loop or not...maybe someone can help with this..we didn't start from the Visitor Center..but the parking lot before that..there was a large building with some wierd looking machines in the parking lot, but it said Bagley Lakes, Heather Meadows and Wild Goose Trailhead.. So from here back around, was it 8 miles? Seemed looonngger!!!
 
----------------------------------------
Chaos, Panic & Disorder----my work here is done. |
Edited by - calixtomoon on 09/25/2005 12:32 PM
|
|
 Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2005 : 11:00 AM
|
| Great TR and pics. Glad to hear I'm not the only one too cheap to buy parks maps. I can empathize with Kari Ann - once I was barrelling out of the Healy Pass trail in the Rockies on skis (you can get going fast) and I shot around a corner to be confronted with another woman's butt - who was taking a leak right on the trail - did she ever jump. |
|
|
Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2005 : 8:27 PM
|
heehee..thanks sandy.
----------------------------------------
Chaos, Panic & Disorder----my work here is done. |
|
|
Abbotsford, BC
Canada
362 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 10:08 AM
|
Great TR as always Charlene! You and Cali were great trail company! The thing about that episode was I had to go soooo badly when I got my pants down as the trail was so wide open...then thier 'whoo hoos!' and me having to yank them back up w/o doing the business and walking past them 10 mins later with my knees glued together in search of a place of peace! Ack!!!
Otherwise, this was a great hike, beautiful day, good company ...hmmmm,    
My first attempt at posting pictures...
Thanks for a great day Charlene and Cali!!!
----------------------------------------
Life responds when we risk.
Min~ |
|
|
surrey, bc
Canada
1389 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 10:26 AM
|
cool report! its so gorgeous down that area, and i'm surprised to hear there's still berries good enuf to eat! 
----------------------------------------
yeh baby!! |
|
|
Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 11:16 AM
|
Thanks for posting pics Kari! You did it!
Ruth: I think you would have enjoyed this one...
----------------------------------------
Chaos, Panic & Disorder----my work here is done. |
|
|
 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
|
Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 11:22 AM
|
| I think the glaciated mountain in the distance is Glacier Peak, not Mount Rainier. |
|
|
Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 12:45 PM
|
Thanks Dru
----------------------------------------
Chaos, Panic & Disorder----my work here is done. |
|
|
|
Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 4:45 PM
|
I did not realize this was such a beautiful area. Great set of photos and trip report.
Regards, |
|
|
|
Terminator shade wearing, summit questing, double Grinding, Gordo voting self annointed 'dumb ass' and Aconcagua Bagga who dreams of Robson, Teton, The Judge, and.....and....
Port Moody, B.C
Canada
2210 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 5:17 PM
|
| Beautifull place. Thanks for sharing the wonderfull pic's. |
|
|
|
Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13035 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 8:29 PM
|
| Nice pics and report |
|
|
|
Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 8:58 PM
|
Great trip report. I guess most of the pictures you took were of Mount Baker. I keep wondering where that Black peak is to the west of Baker you see from the Canadian border side and what it is called. Any one know?
----------------------------------------
Wildman |
|
|
Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 10:12 PM
|
Unfortunately, I don't know any of my mountains. Maybe Dru can answer that one..or ChuckU. I think he goes there a lot.
----------------------------------------
Chaos, Panic & Disorder----my work here is done. |
|
|
|
Terminator shade wearing, summit questing, double Grinding, Gordo voting self annointed 'dumb ass' and Aconcagua Bagga who dreams of Robson, Teton, The Judge, and.....and....
Port Moody, B.C
Canada
2210 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 10:28 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by calixtomoon
Unfortunately, I don't know any of my mountains. Maybe Dru can answer that one..or ChuckU. I think he goes there a lot.
----------------------------------------
Chaos, Panic & Disorder----my work here is done.
Are you talking about this peak actually to the east? Shuksan.
I think the only range to the west that's close to Baker is the Twin Sister range and I don't think it's in any of these pic's however. |
Edited by - Jeffster on 09/26/2005 10:30 PM |
|
|
Abbotsford, BC
Canada
362 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2005 : 11:21 AM
|
I don't think we saw a range to the west...I looked thru my pix and I guess Charlene and I took the same ones ...
----------------------------------------
Life responds when we risk.
Min~ |
Edited by - minou on 09/27/2005 11:25 AM |
|
|
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2659 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2005 : 11:40 AM
|
| Looks like a great day out! |
|
|
|
bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4646 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2005 : 11:50 AM
|
Ahh you finally got to do your trail - now you have to stay within the Border and do some hikes around here Lady!
Your picture taking is getting to be fabulous!!!! 
Looks like a nice trail indeed. |
|
|
Langley, BC
Canada
151 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2005 : 3:21 PM
|
Very nice, indeed.
I would love to get out with you ladies one of these days!
----------------------------------------
Some fun hmm, Bambi? |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Chain Lakes Loop Mt Baker Sep24 2005
