Trip Report
Day Hike - Skyline Divide
Successful hike to Skyline Divide, with 10 participants. We shortened the trip to about 5-6 miles and 1,500 elev. gain. The road access was poor, and very slow driving in and out.
Marilyn Thompson
- Sun, Aug 18, 2019
- Day Hike - Skyline Divide
- Skyline Divide
- Day Hiking
- Successful
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- Road recommended for high clearance only
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The road was very rough. 12 miles on rutted dirt road with big potholes. It took about an hour to travel the 12 miles. The trail was in very good condition. We were there on a Sunday, so there were a lot of people. We did not encounter any significant hazards. There is no water along the way, so be sure all hikers are carrying plenty of water. Wildflowers a little past prime, but still plentiful.
We left the Mountaineers Mt. Baker Lodge at 9 am, left a couple of cars at the Glacier Ranger Station, and carpooled to the trailhead. The road was in very poor condition, so we did not arrive at the trailhead until about 10:45. The trail was in good condition and we had a pleasant hike to the first knoll on Skyline Divide. Eight of the group members reached the destination on the first knoll where we had lunch. The other two stopped where the trail crested the ridge and a had a good lunch stop. We met up for the hike down, which was uneventful.
We hiked about 5 miles roundtrip, with an elevation gain of 1,500 ft. We shortened the hike along the ridge to allow for added travel time on the road and for the return trip home. We also had one group member who was not up for additional mileage.
The trail along Skyline Divide is beautiful. After cloudy weather earlier in the weekend, we were delighted with the blue sky and good views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. The wildflowers were a little past their prime, but still pretty. A couple of us saw one marmot. The bugs were not bad at all.
The hike is great, but the road is bad enough that I would hesitate to repeat the destination.