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CHURCH MOUNTAIN
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Early spring hiking below Church Mountain [176 Kb]
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Church mountain is a prominent high point at the west end of the long ridge
which parallels the Canada-US border about 17 kilometers north of Mt. Baker.
The trailhead, elevation 685 meters, is just a few kilometers
beyond the town of Glacier, Washington on the Mt. Baker Highway. Built to
high standards to service the now derelict fire lookout erected in 1928,
the trail switchbacks
through a dense stand of old growth forest as it ascends the ridge between Deerhorn and Fossil
Creeks. The trail levels off and breaks out of the forest at 1490 meters,
about five kilometers from the trailhead,
where it enters an expansive subalpine bowl ringed on the northwest by steep rock
cliffs and waterfalls. From the bowl, it is another three kilometers to ascend the westerly ridge
to the site of the old fire lookout, elevation 1860 meters. Alternatively, one can
gain the ridge to the northeast of the bowl and from there walk the ridge top to
Excelsior Pass
and beyond. There is no trail on this latter route, but the going
is fairly easy. We've hiked these trails many times over the years when staying
at our cabin at Glacier.
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Mt. Shuksan [251 Kb]
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Mt. Baker [191 Kb]
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