Sunny Herman Saddle

This trip to Herman Saddle (click any picture to enlarge) could not be more different than the trip last year, when it rained all day, except when it was snowing and blowing. We had warm temperatures, and we stopped for lunch here at Iceberg Lake. This hike takes us up over Herman Saddle and then down past several lakes (the Chain Lakes, the largest of which is Iceberg), then back up the other side around Table Mountain, and back down to the start. Since this is a loop, you don't cover the same ground and go back a different way.
Here I am at the top of Table Mountain, and in the background you can see a forest fire and Mt. Shuksan to the right. We had been told this fire has been going for a couple of weeks, almost getting under control, and then starting up again. Other than that, the scenery was gorgeous, and I'm not sure I will be able to keep my excitement up there at maximum if I get too used to this! (Oh wait, it was only two weeks ago that I was in the rain all day long, so scratch that.)
Our view this time included a slightly different angle of Mt. Baker. I was humming along as I walked, "I've looked at Baker from all sides now, from up and down..." because I definitely have been treated to this beautiful mountain from so many different viewpoints that it is beginning to feel like an old friend.
This beautiful person here is Karen (also featured in other pictures), allowing me to try out my fill-in flash feature, which worked wonderfully! The bright sunlight was obscuring people's faces, so I tried it and was so pleased to see how well it works. It does help sometimes to read the manual.
Fred is sporting his new headband, a present from me. He was complaining that my new hat doesn't sparkle enough, like the old one, so I brought this for him and told him it's now his job to be our sparkly one. Several people on the trail commented on it, so I took this picture so he could see how great he looks. Twenty of us made this trip yesterday, and all I can say is, thanks, Senior Trailblazers, for the fabulous memories we're building together!
:-)