Putting this trip report in today (Oct.19), a lot of weather has happened since this hike.

Shared a spectacular day with Ingrid on the Chain Lakes to Table Mountain hike, started out blue and sunny and ended with an overcast sky. Autumn colours still in abundance, and capped with frosty new snow at higher elevations. According to Ingrid, our stats were over 1000 meters elevation gain with more than 15 km return for all the mileage we put on the trail together with the numerous loops on top of Table Mountain. Snow was soft with rising temperatures, and only used microspikes for 5 minutes coming down a steep slope off our high vantage view at our lunch spot. We hit trail near 9;40 am and returned to the car 5:30 pm

Lots of photo stops and a relaxing stop for lunch.

We did the loop, starting from the interpretation center by Bagli Lakes, hiked up over Herman Saddle and down by the lakes, and west of Table Mountain we hiked straight up to see the top of the northern plateau, there are at least 10 tarns up there, if not more.

We were privileged to drive up on the last day to near the Interpretation Center before the road was gated for the winter. Within a few days there was a foot of new snow throughout the area. Happy we got in a good autumn hike in before Winter really set in.

Loved doing this loop counterclockwise, including the side hike up in and out off the north plateau of Table Mountain.

Photos:

Pretty autumn colours greeted me at the Bromley parking meeting spot south of the border.


A pleasant country drive in on the Mt. Baker Highway..



Great open snow-free trail to start:
Interpretation Center...ahead


Baglie Lake below


Down onto the valley below, this is a stream draining into Baglie Lake


Blueberry bushes further up slope beyond the lake


Up heather slope, snow line above us


We are approaching the snowline.



Snow is partly melted, still warmish autumn sun


At Herman Saddle:
Mt. Baker in its glory..



Steep jagged cliff drop. North plateau of Table Mountain, our lunch spot destination


Pleasant trail, lots of autumn colours



Iceberg Lake view


Snowfree hiking is great...





Vivid reddish blueberry bush, lime green moss, and heather....



Trail side views of Iceberg Lake






The side trip trail to take is here......



Well graded trail, hardly ever used through the years...


The high cliff of Table Mountain, the higher south plateau.




Super view of Mt. Baker from north plateau, good cover of snow.



One of many Tarns


Tarns, our lunch spot on that knob.


ICEBERG LAKE, and other lakes beyond...


We are ready to head back..



Basaltic Cliffs above Iceberg Lake


West cliffs of Table Mountain, and place of the side trail up...



South Table Mountain trail leads back to Artist Point


These steps up from the parking lot where we parked...



Google image shows the side trail up from the main Chain Lakes trail, and heads up to top of the northern Plateau.