Hike: Heliotrope... Creek, I guess.
Aug. 2nd, 2025 05:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nwhikerThe plan was to hike to Heliotrope Ridge to get a view of the Coleman Glacier on Mt Baker, something we'd done with the kids when they were little.
This time... things did not quite go as planned, but turned out perfect anyhow.
At this point, as in the past years, Forest Service campgrounds are booked pretty much the second they open up for bookings. There might be a stray Tuesday here and there, but counting on finding one of those days when we can actually get out isn't really possible. So we tried something else: booked a "primitive tent site" at an RV park near the FS road we wanted to take. It was pretty expensive ($45/night) and pretty awful, but the restrooms -two for the whole RV park and 20 some campsites- were clean and it was available. So yay for that.
Got to the trailhead, took some photos of two guys and their teenaged sons who were just coming down from a summit climb on Baker. Pretty cool.
After a bridge over a crossing that features prominently in our family hiking lore we got to the wilderness boundary. Still looking pretty chipper here!
The trail was about as I remembered. Pretty steady up (expected is about 1500 elevation in 2.5 miles by current WTA reckoning) but nothing drastic. There are three major stream crossings. I knew they would be difficult, it's hot season so a lot of glacier melt, so I packed both my sandals and my hiking poles. Didn't bother with the sandals on the first two crossings: they were relatively uncomplicated as these things go, though tbh the waterfall right after one of them did give me pause when I got a better view of it on the way back, LOL.
We reached the point in the hike where, the first time we did it, Anne-Chloe, for some odd reason, walked straight off the trail. Dh caught her by the backpack or it would have been a nasty slide down. That's me at about that location.
We reach the West Fork of Heliotrope Creek, the one we were the most concerned about. With good reason: it was not, imo, passable without significant risk. Even with poles and water shoes, the depth and speed of the water was not safe, especially not for short me. A quick check on others' trip reports said water to mid-thigh in the deeper channels and there were taller than me. Sigh.
Click on this one for video of the stream from Flickr!
What that sucks. Because we were about 1/4 mile from the end of hike and the stupendous view of the Coleman Glacier. Grr.
Consolation wildflowers.
We decided on a quick backtrack to the climber's trail up what is known as the Hogsback Route, the plan being to get up high enough to have some nice views of Baker (which I really wish they'd name back to Kulshan), the Coleman Glacier, and the moraine.
That trail was not kidding, LOL. It has to gain like 1 mile over 5 to the summit so... it's pretty steep. We climbed about 1000 ft in short order and got some really great views. And as we got higher onto the climber's route and above the surrounding terrain, we got cell service back. With a "Welcome to Canada!" message, LOL.
Coleman Glacier
Click on this one for a video view of the area!
Dh and me with Mt Baker/Kulshan and the moraine
The general view. It was absolutely amazing.
The photo that thankfully does not exist is the one dh could have taken as I turned around and realized that that up, which was steep, but not otherwise challenging, was now a freaking down and I stood there contemplating my life choices and wondering why I always always forget that the way up is easy. I did get down without too many issues. Dh kindly took the pack for the down.
Oh yeah, saw two pairs of fighter jets above us a few minutes apart. I know what they are and what they represent, but I still think they're incredible to watch.
Anyhow, full Flickr set here.
It was a fantastic hike, overall. We'll try to get back out in September or the likes, in hopes of getting to the prize overlook! Full disclosure: I thought dh had the sunscreen in his pocket, but he did not take it, so we didn't have any. He was fine, I burned, and my arms are still sensitive today. I also got bit by two horse flies and numerous mosquitoes! Still 100% worth it. Though... I will admit, I sometimes miss the drama and fun of hiking with my kids!
This time... things did not quite go as planned, but turned out perfect anyhow.
At this point, as in the past years, Forest Service campgrounds are booked pretty much the second they open up for bookings. There might be a stray Tuesday here and there, but counting on finding one of those days when we can actually get out isn't really possible. So we tried something else: booked a "primitive tent site" at an RV park near the FS road we wanted to take. It was pretty expensive ($45/night) and pretty awful, but the restrooms -two for the whole RV park and 20 some campsites- were clean and it was available. So yay for that.
Got to the trailhead, took some photos of two guys and their teenaged sons who were just coming down from a summit climb on Baker. Pretty cool.
After a bridge over a crossing that features prominently in our family hiking lore we got to the wilderness boundary. Still looking pretty chipper here!
The trail was about as I remembered. Pretty steady up (expected is about 1500 elevation in 2.5 miles by current WTA reckoning) but nothing drastic. There are three major stream crossings. I knew they would be difficult, it's hot season so a lot of glacier melt, so I packed both my sandals and my hiking poles. Didn't bother with the sandals on the first two crossings: they were relatively uncomplicated as these things go, though tbh the waterfall right after one of them did give me pause when I got a better view of it on the way back, LOL.
We reached the point in the hike where, the first time we did it, Anne-Chloe, for some odd reason, walked straight off the trail. Dh caught her by the backpack or it would have been a nasty slide down. That's me at about that location.
We reach the West Fork of Heliotrope Creek, the one we were the most concerned about. With good reason: it was not, imo, passable without significant risk. Even with poles and water shoes, the depth and speed of the water was not safe, especially not for short me. A quick check on others' trip reports said water to mid-thigh in the deeper channels and there were taller than me. Sigh.
Click on this one for video of the stream from Flickr!
What that sucks. Because we were about 1/4 mile from the end of hike and the stupendous view of the Coleman Glacier. Grr.
Consolation wildflowers.
We decided on a quick backtrack to the climber's trail up what is known as the Hogsback Route, the plan being to get up high enough to have some nice views of Baker (which I really wish they'd name back to Kulshan), the Coleman Glacier, and the moraine.
That trail was not kidding, LOL. It has to gain like 1 mile over 5 to the summit so... it's pretty steep. We climbed about 1000 ft in short order and got some really great views. And as we got higher onto the climber's route and above the surrounding terrain, we got cell service back. With a "Welcome to Canada!" message, LOL.
Coleman Glacier
Click on this one for a video view of the area!
Dh and me with Mt Baker/Kulshan and the moraine
The general view. It was absolutely amazing.
The photo that thankfully does not exist is the one dh could have taken as I turned around and realized that that up, which was steep, but not otherwise challenging, was now a freaking down and I stood there contemplating my life choices and wondering why I always always forget that the way up is easy. I did get down without too many issues. Dh kindly took the pack for the down.
Oh yeah, saw two pairs of fighter jets above us a few minutes apart. I know what they are and what they represent, but I still think they're incredible to watch.
Anyhow, full Flickr set here.
It was a fantastic hike, overall. We'll try to get back out in September or the likes, in hopes of getting to the prize overlook! Full disclosure: I thought dh had the sunscreen in his pocket, but he did not take it, so we didn't have any. He was fine, I burned, and my arms are still sensitive today. I also got bit by two horse flies and numerous mosquitoes! Still 100% worth it. Though... I will admit, I sometimes miss the drama and fun of hiking with my kids!
