Mount Baker, the "Great White Watcher"
Heather Meadows & Picture Lake
We were looking forward to going hiking again after our day trip driving around. However, when we arrived at Heather Meadows at the end of Mt. Baker Highway, skiers were going down the slope, and the area with hiking trails was still covered with a thick layer of snow. Still we managed to walk over the slippery snow after I grabbed my hiking poles. So, we got a great view of the mount and its surroundings.
![Mount Baker](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Mount-Baker-Heather-Meadows-02.webp)
![Snow-covered Trails](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Mount-Baker-Heather-Meadows-03.webp)
![View from Mount Baker](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Mount-Baker-Heather-Meadows-04.webp)
![A Wall of Snow](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Mount-Baker-Heather-Meadows-01.webp)
![Picture Lake](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Mount-Baker-Picture-Lake-01.webp)
![Picture Lake](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Mount-Baker-Picture-Lake-02.webp)
After this slippery “adventure”, we took a short walk at Picture Lake to walk the snow-free trail around the lake. As did many other visitors who had to change their hiking plans as well. The Picture Lake trail offered beautiful vistas, but for an alone-in-the-wilderness experience, we have to come back again.
Lake Anne Trail, Mount Baker
We returned to Mount Baker to hike the recommended, moderate Lake Ann Trail, an 8 miles roundtrip through the Mount Baker Wilderness.
It didn’t look promising with the small patch of snow on the trail. However, we still could safely walk around it. We continued our hike through the forest and quickly descended to the Swift Creek Bassin. Mount Shuksan guided us through a varied alpine basin with rough boulders, meadows, gentle streams, and colorful wildflowers.
Lake Anne Trail, Mount Baker
After re-emerging from the forest, the hike changed into what seemed to look like rock climbing! Still, we managed to navigate over the rocks. However, when we turned the corner at 3.3 miles, we realized the hike would end there for us. We adhered to safety first and did not want to fall through the melting snow and get injured by the sharp rocks. We couldn’t walk around the snow patch either.
![Start Lake Ann Trail](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-01.webp)
![Lake Ann Trail](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-02.webp)
![Swift Creek Bassin](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-03.webp)
![The Swift Creek](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-04.webp)
![Fallen Trees](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-05.webp)
![Magnificent Mountain Views](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-06.webp)
![Our Turning Point](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-07.webp)
![Magnificent Mountain Views](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-08.webp)
![Waterfall from Heather Meadows](https://thetravelingtulip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TTT-Lake-Ann-Trail-Mt-Baker-09.webp)
Date
July 02, 2023 |
July 07, 2023
Distances
0.87 miles
6.66 miles
Moving Time
0.5 hours
3:25:27 hours
WEATHER
79 °F, light breeze
71 °F, light breeze