Table Mountain Hike

In September Jamie and I made the long drive to Artist Point at Mount Baker Ski Area only to find it covered in fog and rain. Though disappointed we noticed the area had great potential of being very beautiful on a good day. We waited two weeks for that day to come. It was a sunny Fall day with temperatures in the 80's. The parking lot at Artist Point alone had incredible views of Mount Shuksan, but there was more to see on the trails.

We met up with my sister, Willie, Jordan and my mom, but we didn't stay together. We each planned to hike to Chain Lakes, but Jamie and I wanted to take the harder route up and over the nearby Table Mountain. From the trailhead there looked to be no easy way to the top, but as we went further we noticed the trail switch backed up the steep face of Table Mountain. At the top we hiked along the mountain's long plateau seeing many interesting things including rock formations made by hikers, ponds, incredible Fall foliage and a wide open view of Mount Baker. Our intent was to hike down the other side to Chain Lakes, but we could find no safe way to do so. Instead we had to hike back down the way we came.

After returning to the parking lot we took a brief break and then hiked around Table Mountain to Chain Lakes. On the way there we passed my family who were returning from the lakes. Though we were tired from the previous hike and the hot sun was beating down on us they recommended we continue on to the lakes. We eventually made it to Chain Lakes which is a series of four beautiful lakes in the shadow of table mountain.