Mt. Baker trails are my favourite, great grades, routes, and views.

Three of us had a brief border crossing and headed over to Mt. Baker. We drove up the access road to Artist Point, and parked near the Interpretation Center about half way up.

We geared up, and found I should have brought a warm jacket. Hiked in counterclockwise fashion, the Chain Lakes to the Ptarmigan trail and then hiked the trail south of Table Mtn. we also hiked an extra 3 km extension on the Ptarmigan trail. Very little in the way of new snow, just patches survived higher up. Trail is snow free, but lots of icy patches along the lake. Day started windy and cold, had a brief interlude of peace and relative warmth by the lakes. Cold and icy wind on the Ptarmigan ridge trail to the west. pleasant when we headed back via Artist Point parking lot, returned via the trail that heads down below the artist point ridge.

Our hike was for 17 km return with 750 meters net cumulative elevation gain, in 6-1/4 hours including lunch by the lake, and a stop at our furthest point west on the Tarmigan trail.

Photos:

From Interpretation Center, great view of our route and the moon was visible and descending.




Inpterpretation Center front, and the lakes and tarns below.




Lower lookout view towards upper Bagli Lake and Table Mountain, we headed down and to the lake staying left (south) to cross over beyond to the trail.









Up the Chain Lake trail, trail bare and with good view from the pass.. to Mt. Baker






Great view of Mt. Baker & Iceberg Lake from below the pass



Lake north of Iceberg lake


Views from Iceberg Lake west shore; Table Mtn and adjacent trail.
Pleasant sheltered area, nice and warm enough for lunch break



From Ptarmigan x Chain Lake trails junction headed west ... cold and windy stretch.






Started heading back: view eastward..






Below Artist point, heading down... great view of Bagli Lake and trail to the pass



Tarn near the Interpretation Center, parking..

Looks great!