17 Aug, Heliotrope
8/15/08
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2522
0
I didn't ski Heliotrope, but I haven't seen a TR for the area in some time and I wanted to give people an idea of how it looks.
My family hiked up to the foot of the Russell glacier, or tried to, anyway. The large creek after the overlook/climber's route split was uncrossable due to deep and swift currents. Perhaps on a cooler day we might have made it.
Anyway, the bridge has been replaced, and all the trees covering the trail have been removed. It's a clean easy hike, none of the bushwhacking we suffered last month. The downside to the easy climb? Less snow.
It looks like the lower third of the slope above the treeline is completely melted out. Above that it still looks really good, although there are clear spots in places.
My family hiked up to the foot of the Russell glacier, or tried to, anyway. The large creek after the overlook/climber's route split was uncrossable due to deep and swift currents. Perhaps on a cooler day we might have made it.
Anyway, the bridge has been replaced, and all the trees covering the trail have been removed. It's a clean easy hike, none of the bushwhacking we suffered last month. The downside to the easy climb? Less snow.
It looks like the lower third of the slope above the treeline is completely melted out. Above that it still looks really good, although there are clear spots in places.
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