Join the ELCC on it's first drive of the summer of 2008. We'll meet at the Snohomish Bakery in downtown Snohomish at 10:00 AM for a top up of coffee and a look through the antique shops specializing in auto memorabilia. At 10:30, we'll head north out of Snohomish, pass by Stevens Lake and through Granite Falls, and regroup at the ranger station at entrance of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (where you can also buy a $5 park day pass). From there, we'll follow the Mountain Loop Road for 15 miles as it winds along the Stillaguamish River and up the mountain valley to the Big Four Picnic Area, where we should arrive just before noon. We'll enjoy a ELCC-sponsored picnic lunch and check out the trails before heading back down the mountain.

Route:

10:00 AM - Meet near the Snohomish Bakery for coffee and antique shops [A on the map].

10:30 AM - Leave Snohomish and drive north through Granite Falls to the ranger station at Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, arriving there around

11:00 AM [B on the map]

11:15 AM - Head up the Mountain Loop Road and arrive at the Big Four Picnic Area around just before noon [D on the map].

Noon and beyond - Picnic, trails, head home

Driving Directions

Link: <maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=16704745172620670119,47.996900,-122.039330%3B11280695726436746109,48.091429,-121.781180%3B7886846551899867798,48.065740,-121.631617%3B6169001990171049598,48.068230,-121.514010&saddr=920+1st+St,+Snohomish,+WA+98290+(Snohomish+Bakery+%26+Cafe)&daddr=S+Machias+Rd+%4047.996900,+-122.039330+to:Ranger+Station+%4048.091429,+-121.781180+to:Wash+Out+Area+-+Drive+SLOW+-+Mountain+Loop+Hwy+%4048.065740,+-121.631617+to:Big+Four+Picnic+Area+%4048.068230,+-121.514010&mra=pe&mrcr=1,2&via=1&sll=47.914041,-122.075443&sspn=0.059138,0.124111&ie=UTF8&ll=47.988083,-121.8013&spn=0.47243,0.992889&t=p&z=10>