| Wildflowers of Baker
By Jack Kintner
With the late season snows holding on at the 2,000 to 2,500 foot level in early June, the wildflower viewing will be slow this summer. As always, the rule of thumb is to follow the edge of the melting snowfields for some of the earlier displays. This would be a good year for the earlier low-elevation hikes such as along the Baker River which is only at about 900 feet in elevation.
The trail follows the Baker River and goes through some nice stands of lowland old-growth cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir. Look for the many varieties of lichen and moss that grow on the lower branches of the trees, and for colonies of wildflowers that occupy niches here and there.
The trail enters North Cascades National Park at the 1.7 mile point and ends about a mile farther on at a campsite (permits required) that has a spectacular view of Sulphide Glacier on Mt. Shuksan.
The trail is a good one for kids and for those who want to go slow and investigate the side trails. Much of the trail is in the shade, which means you’ll have to hunt for flowers and they may not always look like a flower to you. The Pinesap, for example, is what’s known as a “non-photosynthetic saprophyte,” meaning that it does not convert sunlight into energy with chlorophyll and instead lives on dead and decaying plants and animals. It loves the shade.
Similar lowland early season hikes can be found near the town of Glacier, such as the Horseshoe Bend trail that will take you along the north fork of the Nooksack River. Check with the Glacier Public Service Center in Glacier for the latest trail information.
Their phone number is 360/599-2714. The center is open Thursday through Monday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. until the middle of June when it will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. For information on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest call the district ranger’s office at 360/856-5700, x515; for information on the North Cascades National Park, which turns 40 years old this year, call 360/854-7200. |
