Sept 29 Coleman Pinnacle, north of Mt. Baker

What a great day for a loop around the pinnacle.  Started from the road gates at the base of Austin Pass in the Mt. Baker Area.  For the most part the Wild Goose Trail is snow free up to the Artist Point parking lot.  There has been a lot of snow melt since last months outing.  Last month there was no sign of the bathroom at Artist Point.  Yesterday the structure was for the most part melted out, however the south winds have really down there damage to the metal roof.  Oh well some lucky state contractor will enjoy the work next year.  That is if the state is able to clear the road to Artist Point, we will see.  Anyways, the south slopes of Table mountain where quite beautiful with the purple and red of the fall colors.  It was intermittent snow fields beginning just past the intersection of the Ptarmigan Ridge trail and the Chain Lakes trail.  Crampons came in quite handy, for the steeper frozen crossings.  Having spent a number of years with the local mountain rescue unit, I have seen first hand what can happen.  The travel out to Coleman Pinnacle was more trail than snow, with larger snow fields finally being encountered on the south slope of the Pinnacle.  A scramble to the top of the Pinnacle was a must.  After returning from the views, it was time for lunch and the just rewards of laying down turns on untouched light corn.

A great late September ski outing high in the North Cascades