Photos

25 years ago I found a photo of this majestic mountain in a book at the library. I painted it in acrylic, my one and only painting which hangs on my living room wall. I've always wanted to see it in person, so this month our family summer trip was to the North Cascades in Washington State. I finally was able to stand in person and see this lovely mountain.

Mount Shuksan stands 9131 feet, or 2783 meters tall, not very tall in comparison to the four mountains near where I live, Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier, but HUGE in it's splendor, and sense of majesty. Wow was about all I could say standing there.

I even got my tripod out for this opportunity since I wanted at least one photo to turn out. I did discover that the lake portrayed in my painting was NOT the same as the one seen here. This one is taken from Picture Lake and the one I have was taken from another nearby lake.

From the Forest Service Web site:
Mt. Baker Scenic Byway - State Route 542

Glacier, Washington to Heather Meadows (24 Miles) - Enjoy spectacular scenery ranging from dense rain forests to the rugged peaks of the North Cascades. Most of the elevation gain (3,200 feet) occurs in the last 10 miles as the road climbs steeply past the Mt. Baker Ski Area to 5,400-foot Artist Point and grand views of Mt. Shuksan. A stop at the Glacier Public Service Center as you begin will provide you with local information and history.

Much of the road follows the North Fork Nooksack River, which runs in a gorge 400 feet deep in places. Pullouts along the way let you stop for gazing and pictures. Nooksack Falls, just a few miles west of Glacier, plummets 175 feet in two columns.

Just before the big climb at the end of the drive, watch for a forest of 500 year old western red cedar.

Heather Meadows offers views of Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker, a 10,778-foot active volcano which occasionally emits steam and sulfurous fumes and has active glaciers down to 4,000 feet elevation. Self-guided interpretive trails and a staffed visitor center in an historical setting welcome the summer visitor. During the winter months, the Mt. Baker Ski Area offers alpine skiing and snowboarding.