How To Social Distance While Hiking: Mount Baker - The Scott Paul Trail, 8.26.20
Covid has impacted our entire world and the mountain trails have seen their share of changes. There has been a huge increase in numbers of people on the trails and many of the newcomers trying out this wonderful pastime simply do not know or maybe care about wilderness ethics. Many trails, especially the ones popularized by hiking books and social media are really taking a beating. Even if 100% were wearing masks, it would be a far too crowded environment for me to feel comfortable and if I can’t be comfortable in the alpine, my experience is tarnished.
There are several factors that play into maximizing my chances for a good outing in the mountains.
#1. Go mid-week. I know this isn’t possible for everyone, but it is for me and it makes a huge difference.
#2. Leave early to get to the trailhead. I typically leave at 5:45AM and when I go solo I’ve been known to leave at 4AM.
#3. Try to pick hikes that aren’t as well known or popular. That’s a tough one because there aren’t many secret places left. I just try to pick ones that I know fewer people will go on.
I went hiking this last Sunday with Neighbor Mark and his girlfriend Michelle. Due to work restrictions we went on a Sunday yet still managed to be alone for much of the hike. This was due to following #2 and #3. Today I went hiking with Mike from Mukilteo and by following all three factors we had a spectacular day and had the mountain entirely to ourselves.
Similar to Sunday’s hike, when I arrived at the trailhead this morning (7:45AM) the parking lot was already quite full. That told me most of those folks were camping on the mountain. We headed up the trail at a steady but moderate incline until we reached a junction. I had been up here several times so I knew that the vast majority of people would be at Park Butte Lookout or The Railroad Grade which are both extremely popular. So instead of heading to either of those places, we took the other trail from the junction called the Scott Paul Trail. This trail is relatively new having been opened for hiking in 1993. It is not in any of the most popular guidebooks and far fewer people seem to know about it. It couldn’t be for lack of scenery for this is one great view after another.
From the junction, the Scott Paul Trail winds through the woods for a short ways until it pops out on the edge of the ridge known as The Railroad Grade. It’s kind’ve like standing on the edge of a gigantic snowboard half pipe, except twenty times wider and taller. The Grade is actually a lateral moraine created when glacial ice filled the trough by pushing all the material in its way to the sides as it flowed slowly down the mountain. When the glacier receded, what was left were huge walls of dirt and rock on either side and Rocky Creek flowing down the middle far below.
Trail from Railroad Grade dropping down to Rocky Creek
The Black Buttes rising above The Railroad Grade
Looking across to the other side of the glacial trough with Mount Baker towering behind
Our trail descended down the side of The Railroad Grade until we came to Rocky Creek. This creek can really rage at certain times of the year and especially in the afternoons when heat melts more snow from above. Normally there is a suspension bridge spanning the creek but possibly due to understaffing during Covid, the bridge was never erected this year. We knew this in advance and had brought water shoes to ford the creek but we found a spot about a hundred yards upstream where we were able to rock hop across without taking our boots off.
Rocky Creek
Once across the creek we followed the trail as it climbed up above the moraine on the opposite side from Railroad Grade. As we climbed higher the Twin Sisters Range came into view right above The Railroad Grade.
Twin Sisters Range over Railroad Grade
Once we were out of the gigantic trough that held Rocky Creek we hiked straight towards the summit until we were fairly close to the toes of the glaciers. From this point the trail is just heavenly. Reaching the high point, the trail followed the same contour line for miles along the flank of Mount Baker. It mainly stayed in flowery meadow areas, never straying far from the glaciers above. Flowers were everywhere and little creeks were still gurgling in the meadows. There were no bugs (always a huge plus). Every turn around each hill offered up some new view. We were high enough that we could see many peaks off to the south of us including Glacier Peak.
Mount Baker
Mike enjoying the view
Not only tons of color, but a very strong scent of alpine flowers in the air all along the trail
Mike approaching our lunch spot
The South Twin of the Twin Sisters
Eventually the trail began to drop down from the alpine setting back into the woods for the remainder of the loop back to the trailhead. Just before the final plunge into the woods we came upon some meadows with great new views to the east which included Mt. Shuksan and the range of peaks that make up the Noisy Diobsud Wilderness.
Mt. Blum
Mt. Hagen
The Northern Picket Range
Since leaving the junction back near the beginning of the hike we had not seen even one person. We were even more fortunate that we had anticipated. We did run into just a few people on the last stretch through the woods and they all practiced safe trail practices such as masks and moving off to the side of the trail as we passed. As an added bonus to an already stellar day, I picked a whole sandwich Rubbermaid full of wild blueberries and huckleberries. I see pancakes in my future!