July 27 – Friday – Boulder Ridge Hike – This trail is more a boot track than a trail, used primarily by climbers as an alternate climbing route for Mount Baker. Our hike will be a total of 8 miles with a final elevation at 4500’ with an elevation gain of only 1300’. But the trail is sometimes indistinct, muddy and with lots of logs and roots, plus there are stream crossings, steep sections and sheer drop offs. The road to the trailhead is very rough and high clearance vehicles are highly recommended. Because we will be going into the Mt Baker Wilderness, we will limit the group to the first 10 that sign up. Northwest Forest Pass required. Recommended car pool fee of $5.00. Email Jennie and Steve at tojennie@comcast.net to sign up and get additional details.
Trip Report
The gang of twelve braved the FS roads to Rainbow Ridge. The hike was a poster child for truth in advertising: Short hike to subalpine meadows – ✓; great views – ✓; chance to see bear and goats; snow fields in summer – ✓. A long drive on terrible, TERRIBLE, forest service gravel roads – ✓; steep trail at spots – ✓; hot and sunny – ✓; some bugs – ✓; a poor boot track of a path with roots, mud, and severely eroded tread – ✓. Hike up to the snow on the sub-alpine ridge for lunch – ✓.
