August, 2018
Today I had a very specific destination in mind, although I was in no hurry so I figured I would wander and roam my way towards that destination and sure enough that’s what I did.
I wanted to drive Road #11 up the west side of Baker Lake … a lake that’s formed by run-off from several glaciers on Mount Baker and formed by a hydroelectric dam/facility. So I thought I would be focusing on exploring Baker Lake. Exploring Baker Lake did happen, but the highlight of the day was seeing Mount Baker herself!
Mount Baker played peek-a-boo with me on many twists and turns of Road #11.
On the map above, you can see Road #11 on the west side of Baker Lake. There’s an arrow at the bottom of the map pointing to “Route 20”. That’s one of the main highways east-west that eventually climbs from western Washington, all the way through the Cascade Mountains, and then into eastern Washington. Rasar State Park campground is just off “Route 20” (south of it) just a few miles to the west of this map. You’ll see Mount Baker on the map above in the upper left corner … it’s really close!
On one of the side roads that I explored, a peaceful, little lake appeared so I drove down a dirt road to get closer.
Not another human being was in sight.
Did you notice the Dragonfly in the photo above?
In the photo above it looks like two Dragonflies are engaged in a bit of hanky-panky, though I can’t tell who is doing what to whom.
I enjoyed the lake for awhile then got back on Road #11 and entered National Forest land.
There she is again, around another bend in the road, handsome Mount Baker.
As I was driving over a narrow bridge, I caught just a glimpse of Mount Baker out my rear view mirror so I pulled over and parked. When I walked away from the truck and looked up, zounds! Below is what I saw.
I walked back to the bridge that I had just driven across …
The view from the bridge.
The river reminded me of some famous streets in San Francisco … or maybe the streets in San Francisco remind me of this river. I suspect this river was here hundreds and likely thousands of years before San Francisco existed.
Telephoto pictures of Mount Baker taken from that bridge.
A mile or two further up the road after the bridge, the paved road became gravel. Shortly after that, the road got fairly rough and rugged, so I turned around.
On my way back down Road #11, I stopped at every campground along the way and scoped out campsites for future reference. There were lots of campgrounds along this road:
Boulder Creek Campground
Panorama Point Campground
Bayview Campground
Swift Creek Campground
Shannon Creek Campground
Park Creek Campground
Kulshan Campground
Horseshoe Cove Campground
I found several excellent campsites. But there was one definite favorite. One day in the future, if I were to back my trailer into this almost private campsite in one of the campgrounds right on Baker Lake, the view out my back dinette window would be the view in the photo below. No, that isn’t Mount Baker, but it sure is a pretty view!
A camping visit here is now on my 2019 calendar. I can then explore the area in much more detail … or, I can just sit right there and enjoy that view. Wouldn’t that be something to have that view out your living room window? Wow.
Ann,
As usual, your posts are wonderful and thought provoking. In this post, you stated that you didn’t know who was doing what to whom. Well, since I have an inquiring mind (yes, I also read the National Inquirer), here is who is doing what to whom.
To mate, the male dragonfly grasps the female’s neck with his anal appendages, raises his abdomen and invites the female to bend her abdomen to join her genital opening with his copulating organ. Together they form a heart-shaped “mating-wheel”.
Now you know and I am also more knowledgable, thanks to your inquisitive comment.
Whoa, now here’s a guy who knows about hanky-panky!
Seriously tho, thank you, Bob. I like the “invite” part and the heart-shaped part. And it’s just nice to know there will likely be some little pitter-patter of tiny dragonfly feet in the future. Thanks for teaching all of us.
Gorgeous views. I love that it is so unpopulated.
Cracking up over your dragon fly comment.
I was surprised how few people there were up on that road, especially with so many campgrounds and it was long before school started. Oh, well, I was happy with fewer people. Glad that comment made you laugh. I had a good timing writing it too. 🙂
Your truck matches Mt Baker’s glacier!
Oh, it does! I didn’t even notice. Thank you Robin. 🙂
Breathtaking pictures!
Thank you!