We Could have Gone to Europe Instead!*&#

Another beautiful Saturday and we finally made it to Mt. Baker. We had plans to go the week prior but got lazy and I caught a cold so this was a better day for it anyhow.. Got up a little late and not as prepared as we usually are..pit stops for gas, bread for the lunch but 3 hours later we were at Mt. Baker. Took a little to find "Artist Point" but finally found the right parking lot.. lots of cross country skiers and some snowshoers. Started to head up, wasn't quite sure where the route was..but a nice guy on his way down confirmed we were headed in the right direction so up and up we went. We hiked our first steep hill..got up and then found another yet more steep hill and another and another:) fell backwards a few times but thank goodness for the fresh snow, so soft, so fluffy so different then the crunchy snow we found at Rainier..half way up and it was almost 1pm so stopped for lunch joined at one point by a huge dog who smelled our chicken..after lunch back to it..Gorgeous is what i kept saying to myself.. got to Artist Point and it was all worth it.. 360 views all the way around. Couldn't have asked for a better day, clear blue skies, warm, hardly any wind..did I already say gorgeous? on the way down, I fell twice on the very steep hill again and at one point gave up and sat on the snow and start to scoot hoping I would just slide..didn't happen but it made for a good laugh...it was hard to get motivated that day but when we got back we both said, so glad we went...still amazes me all the beautiful places there are just a few hours away from home and all these years I've lived here, never went out to explore ...snowshoeing is just the most relaxing activity. With so many things to "stress" about, when I am out in the mountains, fresh, cold air, snow, gorgeous views, quiet.. just makes everything go away:-)..cheesy I know but can't wait to go again before the season is over ..thank goodness for the snowstorms the last week!