Backpacking trip: day one, Bagley lakes to Chain lakes

On Monday we drove up the Mount Baker hwy to begin our next backpacking adventure of the summer. As we drove up I got this photo of Shuksan.

Our plan originally was to hike to Chain lakes - fish and camp, then hike to Ptarmigan Ridge and camp below the portals before heading to Lake Ann for the last night. We read a trip report that said Ptarmigan ridge still had a bit of snow on the North slopes. So we decided to camp only two night instead. We parked at the Bagley lakes lot, and I did a quick stop to look at the museum/store before we began. An employee in the building told me that Ptarmigan ridge was indeed snowy still, so we glad we changed our plans.

A look towards where we would be going over Herman Saddle.

Herman Saddle trail is a nice gradual climb to get to Chain lakes from Bagley lakes.

Looking back from where we'd come from, our view from the saddle looking towards Bagley lakes, Shuksan and Table mountain.

One small snow patch to walk over as we began our way down to the Chain lakes. Iceberg lake and Mount Baker are visible from the saddle.

Map of the lakes courtesy USFS.

Our destination for the night was Hayes lake, you can see where it is in relation to the other lakes on the map above. 

Camp picked out and set up. Many mosquitoes here. We quickly put on our head nets.

My husband brought his fishing gear again and we shared a fish with our dinner.

Brook trout

Such a pretty area.

Mazama Dome looking over our lake.

Some of our lovely mosquito friends.

A second fishing time after dinner reaped two more fish (Brook & Rainbow trout) for us to eat for desert. As he was fishing I realized a snow heart was looking over him on the cliff across the way.

Garmin stats:

total miles hiked - 4.04

total ascent - 1335 feet

total descent - 961 feet

Day two, our hike to Lake Ann to be continued.....