We were back at our favorite spot for snowshoeing on Thursday, January 29. Artist's Point is not only a high altitude location that is easily accessible but provides some of the most fantastic scenery in the North Cascades, with Mount Baker to the south, Mount Larrabee and the Border Peaks to the north, Mount Shuksan to the east, and Table Mountain to the west.. We went with a couple (and their puppy, Charlie) who recently moved here and were showshoeing for the first time. It was a gloriously beautiful day with some clouds moving in and out, but mostly sunshine and unseasonable warm weather. We climbed to the highest point, had our lunch and a cup of hot coffee at the top and then headed back down. We had enough snow for snowshoeing and there were skiers out as well, but the area has had very little snowfall this winter and the ski resorts are suffering as a result. That did not, however, trouble us.
starting up with Table Mountain in the distance
Herman Saddle to the west of Table Mountain
Mount Larrabee and the Border Peaks to the north
Table Mountain again
first view of Mount Shuksan to the east
our destination in the distance
Mount Shuksan and Shuksan Arm now visible
at the top near Table Mountain
looking back
Mount Baker
Baker Lake to the southeast
Shuksan, Baker and Larrabee with the Border Peaks
more of Mount Baker
lenticular cloud over Baker
Shuksan, Table Mountain and Baker from the top
the trail from above
snow
my wife waiting below the highest point
Mount Shuksan
clouds moving in over Table Mountain
to the southeast
Gray Jays
Larrabee and the Border Peaks
at the top
Mount Baker in the clouds
Shuksan Arm
clearing again
headed back down after lunch and coffee at the top
last views of Shuksan
Herman Saddle
Table Mountain and Upper Bagley Lake
Upper Bagley Lake
Charlie
