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closeAs the final weeks of summer approach, many visitors may be going out Mount Baker Highway in hopes of getting in one final hike or camping trip before fall weather arrives.
Personnel at the Glacier Public Service Center urge visitors to be cognizant of the fact that there may be an increase in the number of people traveling on upcoming weekends.
Popular campsites, such as those along the Chain Lakes trail, tend to be at capacity by early Saturday, according to Magenta Widner, forestry technician at the service center. She recommends that campers have a backup plan before they arrive.
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THIS WEEK
Moderate: A loop that measures 61/2 miles with elevation gain at its end, Chain Lakes trail can be considered a bit more rugged than the usual "moderate" hike, said Magenta Widner, forestry technician at the Glacier Public Service Center. But it is now snow-free, so hikers can take in mountain views, wildflowers, marmots and sub-alpine lakes.
The most popular way to access the trail is from Artist Point. The trail starts out flat but quickly ascends 700 feet to the first of the Chain Lakes. From there, hikers have a challenging series of climbs and downhill slopes.
Easy: Artist Ridge Trail, which starts from Artist Point parking lot, is a one-mile round trip on a ridge, and visitors can enjoy views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Baker Lake and "numerous other peaks," Widner said.
"You may see some mountain goats, too." The trail is paved, wheelchair-accessible and has a viewscope, so you're covered if you forget binoculars. "Paved and flat, so anyone can get there - take a baby stroller, or anything like that," Widner said.
TRAIL INFO
Check road and trail conditions before you hike.
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Web site:
Phone: For trails accessed from Mount Baker Highway, call the Glacier Public Service Center at 599-2714 (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Otherwise, call (360) 856-5700, ext. 515.
North Cascades National Park
Web site: http://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/trail-conditions.htm
"Chain Lakes trail is going to be popular, since it's now snow-free," Widner said. "People coming in after Saturday afternoon may have to be prepared to hike out, since it does fill up, especially if it's sunny. Be ready if campsites are full."
There are only eight designated campsites along the trail, but some visitors have chosen to ignore those rules, Widner said.
"Two weeks ago, the mountain stewards found 19 different parties camping out there; that's 11 more than there should have been," Widner said. "People might want to find other options."
Widner said that some trails, like the ones around Lake Ann, "can be busy, because there are no restrictions."
"There are popular trails because they have the scenery and not a lot of elevation gain," Widner said. "But you don't experience the kind of solitude that you might like."
The campgrounds at Douglas Fir and Silver Fir are open and tend to fill up on weekends nights, and the campground at Excelsior is open by reservation only.
LATE-SEASON ATTRACTIONS
Visitors might see a mixed bag when visiting the Heather Meadows area, Widner said, due to slight fluctuations in recent weather.
"Flowers are out, but they're starting to decline," Widner said. "And the fall colors haven't really arrived."
Trails at Heather Meadows are starting to melt out, but recent snow still may be covering open crevasses and holes.
GUEST SPEAKERS WRAPPING UP
This is the final weekend for the Heather Meadows Guest Speakers program. Presentations are held at the Heather Meadows Visitor Center near milepost 56. The programs are free, but a valid recreation pass is required for parking.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, Nooksack elder Tammy Cooper-Woodrich will share traditional stories about animals, plants and people of the Nooksack River. At 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, local historian and author Virginia Hoyt presents Part 2 of a slide show "Mount Baker, the Stories Behind the Beauty: Reminisces of Jake Steiner," focusing on trees in the area.
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