The Baker’s Dozen (miles that is), The Scott Paul Trail/Mt. Baker, 8.24.14
Still buzzing from our hikes in Colorado, six days after returning, Neighbor Greg and I set off for another trip to a part of Mt. Baker we hadn't been yet. From the Park Butte Lookout Trailhead we hiked two miles of easy trail to a junction. To the left were two trails, one to the Park Butte lookout and the other to an interesting feature called The Railroad Grade.
Bridgit and I had hiked to the lookout in 1995 with Andrew in his baby pack. Greg had been to the Railroad Grade about the same amount of years ago. On this day we were planning to take an entirely different trail that branches off of the other ones called the Scott Paul Trail which meanders up above the tree line and contours the mountain from the south side to the east side before dropping down and looping back to the start of the trail. At the junction some lady convinced us that the views weren't as good from the Scott Paul Trail so we made a quick change of plans and headed towards the Railroad Grade.
The Railroad Grade is actually a huge lateral moraine. These are formed when the glaciers moved down the mountain and shoved incredible amounts of earth and debris off the the sides. When the glaciers receded what was left were gigantic walls of earth on either side of deep, glacial carved valleys. The Railroad Grade has a trail route that follows the top of the moraine for several miles up to the toe of the Deming Glacier where there are climber's camps for the most popular route to the summit.
Standing on the Railroad Grade
The trail in this photo leads to the Park Butte lookout. You can see the lookout on the top of Park Butte.
Mt. Baker and the Black Buttes
The Easton Glacier from Railroad Grade
As we stood on the Grade we could see a swift moving creek far below us and a trail on the opposite side of the creek which we figured was the Scott Paul Trail. Realizing we shouldn't have listened to the lady we considered picking our way down the steep side of the moraine and crossing the creek to get to the trail. That would save us from having to backtrack the way we came to the junction. However, we started thinking about the creek and that it may possibly be a lot wider and deeper than it looked from our high vantage point. We might be able to find rocks that we could hop across but then again we might fall in and get swept to our deaths so we opted to go back and pick up the trail from the junction.
Looking across the moraine from the Railroad Grade.
We made it back to the junction in short order and proceeded up the Scott Paul Trail as we had originally intended. It quickly wound around a knob and then dropped down into the valley below the Railroad Grade where we had seen the creek. Still not knowing how we were going to cross, we soon came upon a suspension bridge. Looking at the creek close up we probably could have found a way across but then we would have missed this cool bridge!
Just like Nepal without the Sherpas
After crossing the creek we climbed out of the valley and over the moraine on the far side. From the high vantage point on the far side of the valley we had great views looking back across at the Railroad Grade and the Twin Sisters Range beyond.
Railroad Grade and The Twin Sisters
Once we had climbed out of the valley the trail turned east and gently contoured along the mountain at about the 5,000' level. This section of the trail was absolutely lovely with tons of bright alpine flowers, little creeks and soft green meadows at every turn. I don't know what that lady was thinking, We had great views every step of the way and saw almost no people whereas TONS of people were headed to the Park Butte area.
Flowery trail
In a recent trip report we had read about a side trail to a vantage point higher up. Greg and I figured if we could find this spot it would make a good lunch spot for us. As we rounded another corner we did find the beginning of a side trail so up we went. It actually led us up onto the top of another rocky moraine. This was a much steeper moraine than the Railroad Grade but it looked like it led to a knob with a view so up we went. We bit off a bit more than we bargained for. It turned out to be over a mile up and over 1,000' of vertical. Much huffing and puffing later we finally got to the top and the views were indeed worth the effort. We weren't exactly near the summit of Mt. Baker but it sure looked a lot closer than from the trail. We could also see way down to Baker Lake where we have camped so many times and across to Mt. Shuksan and the northern Picket Range. Just below our feet was a wasteland of rock and glacial debris.
We climbed this moraine to the high point below the glaciers
Crevasses on the Squock Glacier
Mt. Shuksan
Looking across Baker Lake to the Noisy/Diobsud Wilderness
Greg on the summit plateau of our lunch spot with the Twin Sisters behind
Mt. Baker is still an active volcano and it is quite common to see plumes of steam rising form the Sherman Crater
It was supposed to be an easy eight mile stroll but with side trips we ended up going 12 miles and about 3,700' of vertical. Just another day at the office when Greg and I go hiking!