 1 HELIOTROPE RIDGE: Yvonne climbs the final snowfield pitch, Mt. Baker looming over her shoulder. |
 2 View of the Sisters Range from 7000-ft. |
 3 Overheated? No problem. A quick restorative rest on top of the ridge. |
 4 Rock lounge chairs let us enjoy the view of Mt. Baker and the Black Buttes in comfort. |
 5 A quick panning video gives a better sense of the magnificence... |
 6 By mid-morning, clouds were forming and dissipating quickly. |
 7 One of many weekend climbing teams slogging up the Coleman Glacier (at the wrong time of day). |
 8 First lupine of the season -- and it's only mid-June. |
 9 CHAIN LAKES LOOP: Brand new "Mouse on a Stick" head. |
 10 Yvonne arrives at Hermann Saddle just as clouds form around Mt. Baker. |
 11 10,778-ft volcanoe covered in glaciers... just a typical scene. |
 12 |
 13 Incredible views as we drop down to ice-free Iceberg Lake. |
 14 More lupine blooming; an early wildflower season has begun. |
 15 |
 16 YELLOW ASTER BUTTE: A hot 4th of July weekend. Seasonal snow is gone a month earlier than typical. |
 17 Yvonne at 6000-ft on top of the butte, trying to catch a breeze. |
 18 Huge amount of Lewis' Monkey Flower found along the trail. |
 19 Yellow monkey flower are also quite abundant in the few remaining seeps. |
 20 Yvonne tries to keep cool, patiently waiting for my photography to end. |
 21 The largest paintbrush we have ever seen. Perhaps a consequence of the early spring and warm weather? |
 22 A good look at the ice cap on Colfax Peak, next to Mount Baker, obtained along this trail. |
 23 CHAIN LAKES LOOP (SALLY): Sally's introduction to PNW hiking begins on a perfect morning. |
 24 Spider season is off to an early start... |
 25 ...as are the blueberries. Never seen them ripe in mid-July, and they are sweet. |
 26 Sally approaches Hermann Saddle with Baker looming. |
 27 A nice long break allows us to take it all in. A gusty, bug free morning. |
 28 Our panorama, Iceberg Lake below, Table Mountain to the left. |
 29 After hiking, a brief trip up to Artist Point. The is the view of Mt. Shuksan when I road bike up there. |
 30 A closer look at the White Salmon and Upper Curtis glaciers. |
 31 HELIOTROPE RIDGE (SALLY): A pleasant hike through the forest. |
 32 Most wildflowers bloomed very early this year, but fireweed is still abundant in the avalanche areas. |
 33 Creek crossing was "drier" than usual. |
 34 A quick side trip up the Hogsback (climber's trail) lateral moraine for a view of the Coleman Glacier icefall. |
 35 A detailed section of the ice. |
 36 Typically covered in a variety of flowers, only a few paintbrush remained on the slopes. |
 37 Melt water was running fast, so we gained some elevation to find an easier crossing. |
 38 Over at the moraine. 10778-ft Mout Baker behind. |
 39 Some glacier seracs. |
 40 Fireweed and ice. |
 41 Slow down the cascade to 1/25-sec and it doesn't seem so menacing. |
 42 Going off-trail, a huge number of red willowherb are found. |
 43 A better look at the 4-petal red willowherb blooms. |
 44 A cloud and fog filled hike out. Mountain ash berries at the trailhead. |