Crossing back into the U.S. from British Columbia was a challenge to say the least. As a large vehicle, I could have taken a "truck" crossing, which I learned is a fast path, but I wound up at the Peace Arch automobile crossing which delayed us for some two hours. The upside was the beautiful park we found there, dedicated to the perpetual peace between our two countries.
Northern Cascades National Park sits alongside a major highway and offers spectacular mountain scenery, but is little known outside the immediate area. Many people driving through the park never stop for its breathtaking overlooks or interesting hikes. We stopped for every one. The mile hike to Rainy Lake was made even more intriguing by a report of a bear cub on the trail. Naturally, I kept an eye out for Mama Bear all the way there and back, but never saw her or the cub.
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Colonial Peak
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Gorge Lake
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Sourdough Mountain
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Ross Lake
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Rainy Lake
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Frisco Mountain
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Liberty Bell Spires
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Snagtooth Ridge
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Washington Pass
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After returning through the park, it was time to visit Mt Baker. At 10, 781 feet high, it is third highest in Washington and has the most glacier cover other than Mt Rainier. It is one of the snowiest places in the world, its one-year record being 1140 inches in 1999. One of its many lakes, Picture Lake, is famous for its reflection of nearby Mt Shuksan. Even in August, the road was closed before reaching the ski resort, forcing skiers to hike up the last distance.
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Mount Baker
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Nooksack Falls
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Picture Lake/Mt Shuksan
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| Wildflowers |
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| Glaciers |
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Road's End
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| Road's End |
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| Road's End |
Later, we got a glimpse of Mount Baker with the setting sun lighting it.
Staying in the village of Anacortes, we enjoyed amazing views of the sunset while looking toward the San Juan Islands. The ferry, barely visible in the fog, carries passengers and vehicles to several of the islands, as well as Vancouver Island in Canada.
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