Loop. The full loop (9.0 miles) starts and ends at the Artist point parking lot. You take off towards chain lakes and once there, you continue up the saddle around Table Mountain. Once you hit the top of the saddle you have amazing views of both Mt. Baker and Mt Shuksan. It's awesome. Then you continue down the mountain towards Heather Meadows. To do the the full loop, you then hike up the Wild Good Trail from the
Heather Meadows parking area. That's a tough hike...only 2.5 miles, but lots of elevation gain. We cut this last part out by leaving a car at Heather Meadows thus, our loop was about 7.5 miles (Artist Point to Heather Meadows by way of the Chain Lakes trail). I know if you're doing the math at home the figures I gave you don't exactly add up. That's because depending on your source, the exact mileages on this loop and the hikes that make up the loop, differ. So, I'm estimating in part.The hike was amazingly beautiful. You start out heading right towards Mt. Baker. At about 1 mile you can veer left towards Ptarmigan Ridge or veer right to the Chain Lakes. We heard reports from people on the trail that a small black bear had just crossed; we didn't see him. The lakes are beatiful for sure but be
prepared for lots of bugs. Once you start leaving the lakes, the trail heads up towards the saddle (lot's of "blue-leaf Mt. Huckleberries"). Make sure to bring lots of water as there isn't much shade on this loop.
2 comments:
Darin and I (along with a few Fircreek staff) hiked this trail two summers ago. It was an extremely hot, July day, and I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. That is some SERIOUS elevation gain, and going back down it was just as hard. Darin can't wait to do it again, but I call this particular trail "Death by Hike." The only way I could be talked into doing it again would be if we packed along our swim suits for a dip in the lake.
I got (easily) talked into going with mike and the family on this hike, and it was gorgeous! But plan on it being longer than you expect, take water, and snacks, and your DOG! Our dog loved the trails and snow, and ran to the water whenever we were close to it, she probably hiked 12 miles to our 8.
Post a Comment