So where can I see it?

While we were in Sequim we could look across the water and past Seattle and see Mt Baker rising in the distance. When we took the ferry over to Victoria, BC we could see Mt Baker rising in the distance:

So when we crossed over to the other side of the water and we were close to Mt Baker, I knew we would have some awesome views. Therefore we took one day to drive the Mt Baker highway to the end and Artists Point.

On the way we passed the Raspberry Capital of the world, Lynden, Wa, and watched this machine picking raspberries:

A quick stop at the ranger station to pick up maps and directions:

Our first stop was down a narrow dirt road to the  Nooksack Falls:

We ate our packed lunch enjoying the sounds of rushing water:And then continued toward the snow covered peaks:

A stop at this meadow lake to view the snow:

And check out the really cold water:

I wondered if that was Mt Baker across the lake:

Mt Baker receives more snow per year than anywhere else in the lower 48. In fact it holds the world record for the most snow in one year. In 1998 Mt Baker reported 1,140 inches (95 feet). With all that snow it needs serious snow removal trucks:

Is this Mt Baker?:

Where is Mt Baker?:

We went as far as we could only to find that the road to Artist Point would remain closed this summer due to TOO MUCH SNOW! Even with the big trucks, it was just too much snow this year. So guess I’m not going to see Mt Baker!

However, here in the last cleared parking lot we met an old time car rally. There were about 20 of the coolest old cars:

While heading back toward the coast and Birch Bay, we turned down a valley road and stopped at a forestry museum. The volunteer was  a retired forester who told us how this machine is used to bring down the big trees on the sides of the steep mountains. He was great to talk with and we saw lots of interesting things, including a two story cabin made from the logs of just one tree. However, I was so busy listening to our speaker, that I forgot to take any other pictures! Did you know: that Washington schools are among the best financially because a portion of all forestry profits goes to the schools? that when an area is harvested, it is immediately replanted with two year old stock? that a tree planter can plant 1500 trees in a day and all by hand with a shovel? that a few trees must be left as seed trees? and that we have one of the most productive cycles of harvest, plant, harvest in the world? Sustainable forestry!

Leaving the valley we looked back and what did we see? Mt Baker!!! Finally!!!!

We stopped in the little town of Everson for a good German dinner:

And then with one last view of Mt Baker we went back to Birch Bay:

It was interesting that we could see Mt Baker from far away, but couldn’t see it when we got close. Is that ‘can’t see the forest for the trees? or can’t see the tree for the forest?’