Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Yang Xu: guest concert master
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Varèse: Amériques
Frank Zappa: Dupree’s Paradise from The Perfect Stranger;
Henri Dutilleux: L’arbre des songes. Renaud Capuçon on violin;
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, in E-flat major, Op. 55.
Late start. The ferry is very small. Didn't see any vehicle, so I wrongfully assumed that this was a passenger only ferry. At the same time, people were gathering near the eastern side of the ferry dock. It happened to be an outrigger race, with only 4 teams, each consists of 6 rowers. The first canoe out performed the rest for a long shot.
On the way back, took the 1896 Chuckanut Drive. There're quite a few fish/oyster houses along the pleasant winding road. Larrabee State Park is a must stop. Rocky coast, birds and 3 otters. There is an outdoor stage, sheltered picnic tables, a short trail runs along the shore with ~3 view points that you can climb around the rocks.
The hike is steep (except for the first 15 minutes). Almost all in the woods. DRY and warm. 1:45 hr later, each the pass. Nice view to the north, with some snowy peaks low in the far north. Glowing green under the slanting sunshine. Yellow and white flowers. Stopping here would be a pity. The left (west) trail wanders behind a ridge with trees obscuring the view for ~20 minutes, but the slopes were covered with flowers. Once the trees are gone, the view of Shuksan and Baker is fabulous. Lupines cluster together. No flowering carpet. Still not bad. The east trail heads up a knoll, steep, but covered with more yellow and white flowers. Great view to the pass below. Headed back ~6pm, and reached the car in an hour.
Stopped at Nooksack Falls (a side 0.6 mile wide gravel road) on the way back to Glacier Ranger Station. Very pleasant. Not just the North Fork Nooksack River tumbling down here, another creek was also rushing to join Nooksack River. Unfortunately, high fences were lining the rock edge, couldn't get a photo of both. There was one other car on this Tuesday evening.
A minute into the trail, the bridge was broken by heavy snow. Had to go downstream ~100m, over hard dirty ice, thorny devil's club, aided by fallen logs and exposed tree roots. The middle section is flat. Many creek crossing: some require waterproof boots. 
The last slopes were covered with blue and white flowers. On the ridge proper, not many flowers. Shone by the lowering sun, leaves were shining green. In the north distance, Canadian peaks are clearly visible. The main attraction here is Coleman Glacier up and close: deep menacing crevasses. Met countless people: many kids.
After a picnic at Sunrise, I started my hike at 1:20pm. Back to the trail head at 5:20. ~8 miles RT to the campsites, 1900' gain. (Wasted about 10 minutes looking for missing sunglasses and then my poles.) The first 30 minutes is super easy. 1 hour later, broke out of forest. Possible to hear the Panhandle Creek most of the time, but only had glimpse of it twice. The final slopes (after a big bridge) were covered with tall velarians (interspersed with yellow and blue). Still some avalanche lily left. At the junction, turn right to follow the trail cross Summerland. Lushly green. Flowers were blooming, but not a pronounced feature here. Only one good patch of lupines, but hikers are not allowed to walk off the trail in order to get closer. One easy creek crossing. Soon after that, you get to walk on snow. Lots of people: many seniors.
Walked around Tipsoo Lakes. Quite some flowers, again, most yellow and white. Still some snow patches and avalanche lilies. One of my trip companion is a 7 year old. She certainly enjoyed stepping on the dirty snow. Naches peak turned golden, and Rainier went icy grey when the sun set. On the road back, could see the pink Mt Adams clear and majestic.
