I've had a week off and have been enjoying getting out on a couple of good rides. On Thursday Sept 13 my wife and I rode up to Mt. Baker Washington (WA). Mt. Baker is considered an "active" volcano in the North Cascades of Northwest Washington. You may remember it's sister Mt. St. Helens, which had a catastrophic eruption in 1980. Mt. Baker is only second to Mt. St. Helens in volcanic activity. There is a great ski resort here, with deep powder and a long season. Mt. Baker has an elevation of 3286 m/10781 ft, though we won't get that high on Mt. Baker with a motorcycle!

After riding through US Customs at Sumas WA we headed south on State Highway 547 before transitioning east on 542. The roads are well kept 2 lane highways with sweeping curves and gentle straightaways, and lined with placid pastures or pine trees to the edges of the shoulders.





Once you arrive at the base of the mountain, it is 10 miles of technical switchbacks, some more than 180*, and I found my Bimmer butt getting handed to me by a retired couple on a 'Wing just ahead of us

We wheeled by the ski resort parking lot and carried on up to the end of the pavement with a parking lot and beautiful vistas.



That is Mt. Baker in the background.

















By the time we finished some exploring, it was getting late, and we raced the sun back to home - the sun won this one.



About 250 kms return, another recommended ride if you are in this area!

Really very nice pictures, thanks for posting.

Wow, looks like a fantastic ride! Thanks for sharing Clubbie.

OG

Clubbie, from on high could you make out the smoke haze from the Wenatchee fires? The place is ablaze with fire and smoke warnings galore. Mt Baker is a bit too far North and the winds are drifting East. You're lucky to have avoided them.

Great piccies and writing. Thanks!

http://www.king5.com/news/firefighters-169909546.html

great pics clubbie ....thanks for the travelog ....oh! and the mrs makes a guest appearance ... good onya guys ...cheers from downunder

Thanks for posting I needed to go for a ride today and I cant think of a better place.
We are on a fire alert today and have been for a few days. Had good groath with plenty of rain last summer and a dry winter so its almost ready to burn.

Two Wheels Better wrote:Clubbie, from on high could you make out the smoke haze from the Wenatchee fires? The place is ablaze with fire and smoke warnings galore. Mt Baker is a bit too far North and the winds are drifting East. You're lucky to have avoided them.

No, didn't see any fires or smoke, though we have our own Canadian forest fires relatively close by too. They have been causing haziness in the distance. The last pic with the sun - was like a giant red ball, sun refracting through the high level smoke. It kinda looked like the end of the world.

Thanks again ClubC,

Wonderful pictures many thanks for sharing them.



BIG D

Some really nice photos.....enjoyed them.

92KK

Great pics, thanks. I used to live in Mount Vernon, WA - about a 50-mile ride to Mount Baker. I could easily see Mt Baker from my front yard.

Ah... memories.

I can't imagine anything more invigorating than a run up and down tose curves in crisp, cool mountain air and those the views are serendipity personified. Well done on those photos club_c.

88

That brought back memories, in 1990 i had a great holiday touring the North West (in a cage sadly) my wife and i drove round Mt Rainier it had signs of the damage from Mt St Helen's from there we went to Spokane another great area.

Thanks Lou