Sunday, cloudy -> sunny but a bit hazy.
Ptarmigan Ridge at Artist Point, above Mt Baker ski area, and above the clouds. The clouds shrouding the lower ridges, quite pretty. View starts from the parking lot, and never stops. Not just the up close Shuksan and Baker, but many distant North Cascade peaks which I cannot name. Elevation doesn't change much. Perfect for strolling. Some soft snow patches, which doesn't pose any problem. Few flowers were left. Fireweed added some color. Paintbrush here is creamy yellow.
About 1 hour into the hike is a short ridge with gentle slope covered with blueberry bushes, now turning red. Berries were a bit dry and small, but tasty, much more than other places this year. Another hour later is more snow, and a side trail going down to 2 ponds. The small pond is deeper, hence beautifully turquoise. A far snow patch has 3 goats and a baby. We stopped up on a ridge for lunch. On the way back, Nicolas spotted some ptarmigans. Not enough high clouds. Sunset wasn't as colorful as I hoped. The half moon was bright as early as 6pm.
Sunday, cloudy -> sunny but a bit hazy. Ptarmigan Ridge at Artist Point, above Mt Baker ski area, and above the clouds. The clouds shrouding the lower ridges, quite pretty. View starts from the parking lot, and never stops. Not just the up close Shuksan and Baker, but many distant North Cascade peaks which I cannot name. Elevation doesn't change much. Perfect for strolling. Some soft snow patches, which doesn't pose any problem. Few flowers were left. Fireweed added some color. Paintbrush here is creamy yellow. 
About 1 hour into the hike is a short ridge with gentle slope covered with blueberry bushes, now turning red. Berries were a bit dry and small, but tasty, much more than other places this year. Another hour later is more snow, and a side trail going down to 2 ponds. The small pond is deeper, hence beautifully turquoise. A far snow patch has 3 goats and a baby. We stopped up on a ridge for lunch. On the way back, Nicolas spotted some ptarmigans. Not enough high clouds. Sunset wasn't as colorful as I hoped. The half moon was bright as early as 6pm.
