Baker Lake, 8.27.17
I know. Most of you were wondering if I’d fallen off the face of the earth. No recent trip reports. No big trips to Switzerland lately. I get it. But here in the tail end of the summer, we finally managed to squeeze in a camping trip to our special place known as Baker Lake. While most of my reports are based on epic day hikes or backpack trips and given this has been a sparse year for those, the time has come to tell you about why I love this lake so much.
Baker Lake is a man made lake approximately nine miles long and 8/10 of a mile wide that is formed by the Baker River which has its source high in the rough and tumble Picket Range, a wild and inhospitable jumble of jagged glaciated peaks deep in the northern Cascades. It is nestled between Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan and streams from both of these peaks flow into the lake. These streams stem from mighty glaciers on both peaks and the glacial silt gives the water a beautiful greenish hue.
The only road access is along the west side of the lake, where there are several campgrounds. We prefer the last campground on the road near the north end of the lake called Shannon Creek. It is a rustic forested campground long past where the pavement ends. For many years we pitched our tents while our good friends Bob and Dana used sites compatible with their camper. Now that we both have upgraded to small RVs, we are pleased that a couple of sites have flat enough pull-ins for us to park on a level surface. Bob and Dana own a 19’ boat and this has allowed us to explore the little nooks and crannies of the lake over the years.
One of the most amazing features of this lake is the water itself. Not only does the water have this incredible color, it is quite clear and surprisingly warm water. Now when I say warm, let me define that. I have three levels of water temperature that I have described in previous reports. This lake has no right to be swimmable. It gets its water directly from glaciers and yet more often than not, the water is heavenly for swimming. I won’t say warm, for that would be a stretch, but cool and refreshing to the point where you can wallow for hours is not an exaggeration.
Another great feature of this lake is the weather patterns. Early in the mornings the lake is typically a sheet of glass and the perfect conditions for water-skiing. Now personally, the last time I tried to water ski, which was many moons ago, it was not a pretty sight and if someone had driven over my back with a steam roller I might have felt less pain than I did after that fateful day. However, Bob and Dana and my beautiful wife are all great skiers so they take full advantage of the lake being so calm. We also use the mornings for kayaking and there are some really nice spots to kayak along the shoreline where you can see gigantic old growth tree stumps ten feet down under the water.
The east side of the lake has no roads but there is a trail that extends the full length of the lake. Along the way, there are several campgrounds that are only accessible by boat or on foot. These sites are directly across the lake from lovely Mount Baker and the sunrises are spectacular from this vantage point.
Hiking trails are plentiful all around the lake. Some go along the river and some climb high onto the flanks of the peaks surrounding the lakes. I have been on many of these hikes and I always enjoy looking way down to the lake from very high vantage points. There are several smaller lovely alpine lakes high above that we have backpacked to.
Baker Lake is also special as the place I learned how to shed my fear of performing on guitar. Bob, Dana and Bridgit are my biggest fans and many a night after dinner we sit around a fire and I’ll play for a couple of hours. They put up with my learning and allow me to try all my new material on them. Sometimes I’ll bring the percussion instruments and they all get involved (just not too much cowbell).
We have been going to Baker Lake for over twenty years, most of that with Bob and Dana and our kids. We’ve made some very special memories there and expect there will be may more to come.
This is the vantage point from one of the boat-in only campgrounds.
Incredible Mount Shuksan towers over Baker Lake.
Mount Baker is still an active volcano and one of these days we might all get wiped out while sitting around the campfire singing Rocky Raccoon.
Enjoying a morning ski
That strange device is actually a floating bar. It’s a primitive existence but we manage.
Have bar will travel
Bob, Dana, Bridgit and Baker