Mount Baker road open to Artist Point, but snow still deep

Published 9:00 pm Friday, July 28, 2006

The last section of the Mount Baker Highway opened Thursday after three weeks of snow-clearing. Crews had to plow and blow through 20- to 30-foot depths for a couple of miles, and up to 40 feet of snow at the switchbacks to reach the end of the road.

Last year, the road opened June 29 after a relatively mild winter.

Clear roads mean that Artist Point is now accessible. At 5,100-foot elevation, even the parking lot has great views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.

And the parking lot is as far as you’re likely to get for at least a couple of weeks. Because plows push the snow into big banks around the parking lot, it takes scrambling to even get to the buried-under-snow trail.

However, there’s about 10 feet of snow at Artist Point, and even at a warm-weather-induced snow melt of a foot a day, it’s time for a bit of patience and a phone call later to the Mount Baker ranger office (360-856-5700) to check out the snow level.

For you early birds who would like a beautiful drive and a little outdoor time, the half-mile paved Picture Lake Loop is open at milepost 54.1, about 21 miles east of the Glacier Public Service Center.

This is the lake at 4,100 feet that shows up in all those photographs of Mount Shuksan and its reflection.

The snow is melting quickly around the Heather Meadows Visitors Center (MP 56), which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, although a few inches to a couple of feet of snow may provide a slight challenge.

The nearby trail to Bagley Lake is melted out, but there are still a few snowfields to cross once you reach the lake, and taking children on this hike at this time is not recommended.

Careful adults can cross the snow and ice but it’s a greater risk that an incautious child will slip, which will lead to a slide into an icy lake. On a chilly day, the visitor center might have a fire going but it’ll be a cold hike to the flames.

Mount St. Helens: Several miles of north-side trails opened Friday, including Truman Trail, Windy Ridge Trail, Willow Trail, Loowit Falls Viewpoint and a section of Loowit Trail. Spirit Lake Basin trails have had no foot traffic and precious little maintenance for 18 months, so scrambling will be in order.

Fire season: Before you leave home, know whether there’s a burn ban or a fire in the area that you want to hike. If you are allowed, and feel the necessity, to start a campfire on a camping trip, consider the following:

Don’t build it under overhanging branches or on steep slopes; scrape away all the forest detritus before building it; keep it small; have water and a shovel nearby; never leave it unattended; and drown it thoroughly with water and check under rocks for burning embers.

No camping: Don’t plan on camping at the popular Cottonwood Campground along the Hoh River from Aug. 21-31. Construction crews are closing the road to the campground to replace four fish-passage culverts. Information: 360-374-6131.

Hike for money: The Washington Trails Association’s fundraising Hike-A-Thon needs people to hike for pledges during the month of August. Proceeds will be used to protect and maintain trails. For more information and registration, go to www.wta.org.

While you’re at the site, check out the Wildland Discovery Hikes, a series of guided excursions into Washington’s scenic wild lands.

On the bookshelf: Marge and Ted Mueller have updated “Afoot &Afloat: South Puget Sound &Hood Canal” ($17, Mountaineers Books). The common thread of shorelines ties together boating, paddling, biking, hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and beachcombing. The fourth edition includes more maps, sidebars and directions.

Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.