It’s one thing to spend your life looking over at an active glaciated andesitic stratovolcano and it’s another to actually hike at its base. Mount Baker, visible from Vancouver on any sunny day, is located in Washington State and is a part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the North Cascades. It’s easy to get to from Bellingham, which is just across the Canada/USA border and there is a series of walks and hikes for all skill levels in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.
Hiking in Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
From Downtown Vancouver, it’s about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the Public Service Centre in Glacier (along Mount Baker Highway), and if you’re starting out from Downtown Bellingham the drive is about 50 minutes.
At the Public Service Centre you can pick up your National Forest Recreation Pass for $5/day. You can also purchase online in advance but be sure to get the right pass. The pass for a National Park like Mount Baker Snoqualmie is different than a state park pass.
The service centre will have maps and detailed daily information about the trail network as well as park rangers on hand to answer any questions you might have. Most of the mild to moderate hikes depart from paved parking lots, with primitive restroom facilities, and have well-marked paths with signage.
On a clear day, I would have seen a volcano there
The original plan for our group was to head to the very end of the road at Artist Point but it was so rainy and foggy that we could barely see the road, let along Mount Shuksan or Mount Baker (which is also know as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan). We parked just south of Artist Point, at the Heather Meadows Visitor Centre, which is at milepost 56 on the Mount Baker Highway.
Heather Meadows Visitor Centre
Overlooking Bagley Lakes, this visitor centre is open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm from mid-July to late September. You may still find snow in the parking lot in early August so this is definitely a late summer hiking destination. At the Heather Meadows Visitor Centre, which we made our home base for the day, you can purchase, books, maps, get trail and wildlife information. The roaring fireplace also helped us warm up after getting soaked on our hike.
Bagley Lakes and Wild Goose Trail
From Heather Meadows we walked down between Bagley Lakes and traversed the mountainside, crossing waterfall streams that flowed down into the bodies of water below.
We crossed back over the water and caught up with the Wild Goose Trail that took us back up to the meadow high above the lakes below, returning us to the visitor centre.
Horseshoe Bend
After warming our gear and eating a packed lunch, our group was up for one more adventure so we descended from Heather Meadows and drove down toward Glacier (to milepost 35.4 on the Mount Baker Highway). We stopped at the Horseshoe Bend trail — across from Douglas Fir Campground — that follows the Nooksack River. We hopped out for another hike in the pouring rain as the rushing river alongside us flowed ferociously, replenished by the first significant rainfall of the summer.
The terrain here, 20 miles down from Heather Meadows, was much different. The sharp basalt rocks and stones were replaced with lush fern beds, and fir trees covered in fuzzy moss and lichens thriving in the warm, moist forest canopy.
Thoroughly soaked to the core once again, we piled into our van and headed back to Bellingham with smiles on our faces and puddles in our shoes. It really was a lot of fun to explore the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, even if the star attraction didn’t make an appearance from under its cloud blanket.
I’m already planning a return trip with John so that we can do some similar hikes as Shuksan and Baker look on. The best part is that we can head out there on a clear morning with a good weather forecast that day since it’s so easy to get to from Vancouver. If the rain starts to pour and the clouds block out our mountain views, I know we’ll still enjoy a rainy hike, and a good warm up back in Bellingham at the local brew pubs.
View my full album of photos from my Bellingham Adventure Tour on Flickr
Other Hike Options
Here are the best trails recommended by Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, all of which were options for us in late August, should the weather have cooperated:
Heather Meadows & Austin Pass Picnic Area (at mileposts 55-56)
Picture Lake (1/2 mile / .8 km)
This short easy trail, which is also wheelchair accessible, is not short on views. Get your camera out for the spectacular shot of Mount Shuksan reflecting in the lake. It also offers nice fall colour. Parking is on the Mount Baker Highway at milepost 55.
Fire and Ice Trail (1/2 mile / .8 km)
This is a self-guided interpretive trail, and is wheelchair accessible. Several other trails also begin at this point. Park at the Heather Meadows Visitor Centre at milepost 56.
Artist Point, Mount Baker
Artist Ridge (1 mile / 1.6 km)
This self-guided interpretive trail takes you to overlooks with great views of Mount Baker and other peaks. Trail begins at the east side of the parking lot at Artist Point.
Chain Lakes Trail (1+ miles / 1.6+ km)
The first mile of this trail is nearly level, although on the side of a steep slope. It takes you to a junction with a closer view of Mount Baker. At this point the trail splits and ambitious hikers can continue to Chains Lakes or Ptarminagn Ridge (4-5 more miles). Trail begins at the south west end of the Artist Point parking lot.
Table Mountain (1.5 miles / 2.4 km) No dogs
The first part of this hike is steep and zig zags up through lava cliffs. (Not recommended for young children). It ends at mountain top with panoramic views. Trail begins at the north west side of the parking lot at Artist Point.
Resources
Always be prepared for any kind of weather by bringing layers of clothing and plenty of water. Pack out what you pack in, follow signs, stay on the trails, and don’t always count on your cell phone for GPS. Stop into the visitor centres for physical maps to bring along as well.
For all of this trail info and more, follow Bellingham Whatcom County on Facebook and Twitter, as well as the National Forest Service on Facebook and Twitter.
Join the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association for their 6th annual Walk for the Kittes at Jericho Beach this Sunday.
Walk for the Kitties with VOKRA
Where: Jericho Beach (Path, West of Jericho Sailing Club, 1300 Discovery St)
When: Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 11:00am (rain or shine)
Start by choosing your Kitty Representative from a selection of 6 of the 14,000 felines that VOKRA has helped over the years. They all have a tale to tell and represent some aspect of VOKRA’s activities. Then, click to register online for the 5km event as a team or an individual.
Next, collect donations for VOKRA by setting up your own CanadaHelps giving page (using this VOKRA info sheet) or use a paper form and collect pledges. Gather addresses so that VOKRA can issue tax receipts for anything over $20.
About VOKRA
Back in 2012, VOKRA volunteer Alexis Baran told me that members and volunteers have rescued animals of all kinds including the infamous skunk downtown who had a bubble tea lid stuck around its neck. “Maria Soroski (VOKRA Co-Founder) is an expert cat trapper, and has trained other volunteers in the art of rescue. Rescuing Bubbles the skunk in the West End came from that expertise, and our volunteers are often happy to extend their cat rescue knowledge to help other animals in need whenever they can.”
VOKRA is a 100% volunteer driven organization that relies on donations and fundraising for our support. In 2014 they took in over 1800 cats. This year it will be close to 2000. They do not have a shelter and rely on a foster network of more than 350 homes in the Lower Mainland. VOKRA kitties are socialized and cared for while we find them forever homes.
$15 will provide a vaccine
$30 will buy a flat of food
$50 will provide care for one cat for a month
$60 will buy a trap for use in our trap-neuter-return programmes
$100 will spay/neuter a cat
Follow VOKRA on Facebook and Twitter for more information, and register today for the Walk for the Kitties.
This summer I have the enviable task of sharing adventures and writing about some of the Sunshine Coast’s many festivals through a partnership with FestivalSeekers. Once I’ve published my story for them, I’ll be posting an accompanying photo collage on Miss604. Follow all of these stories through my Sunshine Coast tag.
Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
Over 100 artists, potters, crafter, creators, and skilled artisans belong to the purple banner tour on the Sunshine Coast, from Langdale to Lund. This self-guided studio tour is open year-round — whenever you see a banner displayed — depending on the business hours of the artists. However, if you would like to guarantee your chance to talk to artists, in their studios, and purchase some of their amazing creations, the 2015 Sunshine Coast Art Crawl, happening October 16th to October 18th, is the perfect opportunity.
I had the opportunity to pop into Coast Raven Design Studio in Davis Bay (4668 Sunshine Coast Highway between Gibsons and Sechelt) earlier this summer to chat with owners and artists Artie George and Richard de la Mere about their artwork and studio. The pair are members of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council and Coast Cultural Alliance and they have worked together for the last 35 years.
Richard (left) and Artie (right). Richard began focusing on jewellery about 45 years ago and his impressive career has gained him “Master” status for his craft. He has pieces on display at the Museum of Vancouver. Artie specializes in wood carvings, and I ended up purchasing a small frog to take home and keep me company at my work desk.
Read my full article about the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl over on the FestivalSeekers website and check out Sunshine Coast Tourism to plan your trip to this beautiful coastal region.
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series comes to Vancouver March 12-13, 2016 at BC Place for the annual HSBC Canada Sevens Tournament and tickets are on sale as of today. The two-day Men’s tournament will feature 16 nations playing 45 matches of fast-paced entertaining rugby, paired with an equally dynamic festival experience where fan participation plays an important role.
HSBC Canada Sevens is a two-day indoor rugby sevens tournament will feature 16 of the world’s top men’s sevens teams. The HSBC Canada Sevens will be the fifth stop in a ten-stop world tour as part of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Sevens rugby, a fast-paced and shorter version of traditional rugby with only seven players per side, has built a huge international audience through the success of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which attracts large audiences in markets around the world.
Canada Rugby Sevens Passes on Sale
Tournament passes for the 2016 HSBC Canada Sevens Men’s Rugby Sevens Tournament opened to the general public today. The launch of the public on sale follows a week of strong early bird ticket sales, including more than 10,000 tickets being sold in the first 24 hours of the week long early bird sales window.
Public ticket sales for a full weekend pass include general admission tickets starting at $89*. The different ticket options can be found online. Certain levels of tickets – such as the 7s Reserved and Club Seats – already have limited inventory available and are expected to sell-out quickly.
Tournament passes provide access to all 45 games over the course of the two day festival, and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster, or by contacting Ticket Master at 1-855-985-5000. Tickets are currently being sold as 2-day Tournament Passes only. Single day tickets will be released on Tuesday, November 17th, pending availability.
Follow Canada Sevens on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series will be held at Westhills stadium in Langford BC, April 2016 (exact dates will be announced in the coming weeks).
*The fees on the Canada Sevens website include taxes; however facility fees and Ticketmaster fees are added at the time of purchase.
A road trip to the country isn’t just for weekends. Recently John and I took a mid-week drive out to Langley for a dinner and movie, leaving behind our walkable West End neighbourhood and taking advantage of having wheels to get us out to corners of the 604 we rarely have the opportunity to visit. Plotting a course to the award-winning Bacchus Bistro at Chaberton Estate Winery, we followed the commuter crowd out of the city on a warm late summer afternoon.
Honda HR-V Media Image
Heading south through the tunnel, John opened the power moonroof on the all new Honda HR-V, which was released in July of this year. Its blend of SUV-like versatility with a car-like drive wrapped in bold exterior styling puts the HR-V has made it an instant hit.
For me, having driven most of the Honda fleet, it felt like the love child of a Honda Fit and a Honda CR-V. It had the fuel efficiency, responsiveness and sporty feel of a fit, mixed with the comfort and roominess of the CR-V.
HR-V on the Highway
Crossing the Nicomekl River on Highway 99 we were almost sideswiped by an SUV as they swerved into our lane, just as we were on the narrow bridge. I moved evasively, honked, and they swerved again to right themselves in their lane. Luckily it wasn’t too much of a close call, but still I had the Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control on the HR-V which would have really helped.
John looked over and the passengers were looking down at their phones for directions. They turned off at the next exit and we kept on going, following the directions we were getting from our built in Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System. Even if the HR-V didn’t have a navigation system, it still has USB ports where you can plug in your phone and to receive Google Maps turn-by-turn directions that play out loud over the vehicle’s stereo. There really is no excuse to be on a handheld device while driving!
Dinner at Bacchus
We pulled into Chaberton Estate Winery where visitors were picnicking on the lawn out front. We walked around to the bistro at the back that borders the vineyard, it was already busy at 6:00pm on a Thursday. I ordered a prix-fixe tasting menu and John went with one of his go-to meals, roast lamb.
Since I was the designated driver, I gave him the go-ahead to order wine with his meal, and since we were mere feet away from lush, late season grapes on the vine, he happily agreed to partake. He went with Chaberton’s 2011 Reserve Syrah (British Columbia BC VQA) and loved the pairing so much that we hopped into the wine shop after our meal to purchase a bottle to bring home – so that I could enjoy some later on.
Drive in Movie
From Chaberton, we called up Twilight Drive-In on the HR-V’s navigation system and followed its directions as we chased a sunset through Langley Township. Fiery orange and pink clouds hung over pastures with grazing horses and fields of tasseled corn.
Arriving at the drive-in movie – John’s first drive-in experience ever – we were told that we could park anywhere, even though SUVs and over height vehicles usually have to park along the back rows so they don’t obstruct the view of other cars. Nevertheless, we parked our zippy HR-V behind a row of smaller cars and settled in for the movie, tuning into the film’s audio on the radio using the 7 inch touch-screen system.
We sat back on the HR-V’s trimmed leather seats as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. played from the 6 speaker system, filling our ride with audio from the Guy Ritchie spy comedy.
At the end of the show we could have stayed for the double feature but since it was a work night, we packed up and headed home to Vancouver via Highway 1. Dinner, a movie, with a safe and comfortable ride.
Pull up sets in the back in case we needed more cargo room.
Our Thursday night date night in Langley was a success, thanks to the Honda HR-V, which we were sad to return to Honda headquarters the next morning but it was nice to finally enjoy that 2011 Reserve Syrah the following night at home and plot our next romantic adventure outside of the city.
