Artist Point, Mt. Baker (RMOC) Jan.29/17
 

This trip was scheduled for today (RMOC), several weeks in advance and taking a chance on the weather. No matter full steam ahead despite forecast of rain, since where we were going it likely would be snow.

Six of us met @ Bromley's south of the border about 8:10 am, we carpooled in two vehicles and headed east down the Mt. BAker Highway, stopped at the Ranger Station, and then up to the parking at the base of Mt. BAker Skii area.

We geared up and were ready to snowshoe 10:15 am (back 1:45 pm); to Artist Point, the high point of the ridge east and opposite to Table Mountain. The temperature was a balmy +1 'C when we started, it was windy at times though not too bad. We took our time, lots of other people as well. As we ascended the winds picked up, and snow blasted our faces at times... We got to the top, and got decent views of the surrounding mountains despite the high overcast and threatening skies. We took our lunch on top of Artist Point, just down from someone's tent who had overnighted there.

Within minutes the winds picked up with a fury and the temperature dropped to -'5C. We finished our lunch, cold hands, and started to head back. The intent was to pass through Baglie Lakes, but discarded that plan as winds were really furiously blasting the snow around, and snowfall was becoming moderate heavy. At the end, we took a short trip down and then up. Stats for the day; 7.5 km return with net elevation gain estimate of 350 meters. Parking Lot is @ 1275 meters; Artist Point is at 1605 meters.

Snow was well packed on the trails which were well traveled, outside these tracks one would sink in about a foot more or less in.

Photos of the day:

Nice photo set Karl. Wondering where those 5 or 6 people are headed towards that corniced peak? That Mt. Ann?

Thank you Andrew. That group were heading up to the Chain Lakes, going westward and opposite to Mt. Ann...

K

Oh ok got it all backwards. I'll have to get snowshoeing down that way more often obviously. (:

Looks like you had a good day in Baker too! Yep it looks like the hikers would be headed up to the Chain Lakes via the Herman saddle between Table Mountain and with Mazama Dome in the picture. So much to explore there as you can also get to the Chain Lakes by circumnavigating Table Mountain from the west.

You are so spot one; this is a huge beautiful area, have done a lot of trips in the Baker area, much more to cover.

K