Gotta love the Pacific Northwest! It was cool and rainy when we arrived at Horseshoe Cove on Baker Lake in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.  Moss draped fir and birch tower over the shoreline and camp.  A rich fern understory holds in even more moisture.  The weather broke just long enough for an evening stroll.  They claim to have loons here.  I look forward to hearing them.

Sedro-Woolley Visitor Center

If one stays back in the forest one has to drive a bit to a visitor center. Imagine that.  I got my medallion and some trail advice so we are all set for our stay.

Back in the NF it’s dripping again and too wet for trails. We had to settle for watching loons and checking out some great campsites along the northern end of the lake.  Many are ideal for tent camping.

Another break in the rain and we walk The Shadow of the Sentinels trail that winds through towering Douglas Fir. Some are nearly as large as the magnificent redwoods.  It is evening, I hear the loons calling.

Need internet? Need Phone?  Guess what, not out here.

We don’t have reservations for camping Fourth of July weekend so we better get busy. It seems nationwide campground fill up that weekend.  The solution?  Run into the nearest town, Concrete.

We had to explore a bit. Finds included a tiny bakery with pretty fair muffins and scones.  A fun community market with some of the most colorful, eccentric venders I have ever encountered.  They would have chatted for hours.  I kept it to just 30 minutes or so and left with snow peas and a cinnamon roll.

The drive back was fun too. A good sized black bear crosses the road in front of us…  We are just 4 miles by road from camp, probably 2 miles as the crow flies…  No solo early morning walking for me.  Deer are out and about too.