Back at work in the North Cascades!

Welcome back to the good old U.S. of A. folks!!! In the springtime, no less, with barbeques, new dogs, and white folk aplenty! Our traveling pair spent a week in the great northeast of their native country before flying back out west for another summer in the mountains of the North Cascades National Park. To prep for the summer, they headed out on Baker Lake (actually forest service) to check out where they are going to be bringing kids over the summer. They also visited old friends with new babies and did a little mountain reconnaissance of their own.

Boating up Baker Lake to check out campsites for the summer.
The wake of the boat, rippling through empty waters before the lakeside campgrounds officially open for the season.
The backside of Mt. Shuksan from Baker Lake.

and then onto the friends of the upper Skagit and a Gala in the country.

Mr. Samson Goldberg, Host of the gala, being carried by his porter/personal chef.
A pre-dinner walk around the nearby farm is always pleasant.

The Bumbo works as a hat, too!
Mr. Goldberg is always very generous with his guests, offering a wide assortment of refreshments- both crispy and soggy.
Kevin, acting as a backdrop while Mr. Goldberg gives an address to the crowd attending the Gala.
Mr. Goldberg and his father, as he begins to work through his first pair of carhartts.
The evening twilight and rising moon over colonial peak in the North Cascades.

And then on to the higher country for a bit more reconnaissance.
Doesn't it look like a lovely day for a hike?
Kevin and the van at the bridge creek trailhead, getting ready to check out what the snow looks like as it sits on the trail where they will bring young'uns in the summer.
Stiletto peak, where the students will hike in the middle of their trip.
Tasha often found herself breaking through the thin crust of snow over the trail, which had also become a river for the spring melt.
The bridge over Bridge Creek.
Kevin looking for all the world like the Outdoor Professional that he pretends to be.
Glacier Lillies in bloom.
Kevin, not looking so professional as his leg broke through the snow and he sank up to his you-know what (hip).
The drive home with bare feet drying and warming under the heaters.