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Item: June 13, 2010
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“Can you tell us where the trail to table-top mountain is?” asked the man behind the wheel. He was driving a white sedan full of tourists in jeans and t-shirts.

Byron pointed up to Table. “It’s right there, but you might want snowshoes.”

They promptly turned around and headed for greener surroundings as we departed towards blueberry ridge. Rumors of a still-thick Cascadian snowpack had led myself, Sky Risvold and Byron Bagwell to Mount Baker yesterday. And the rumors were true—upon arrival at 10 a.m., heavy machinery sat dormant at the trailhead to Artist Point, waiting for the yet-to-arrive spring melt before they could plow the road. A pond-ride beside the cat track provided a nice diversion during ascent, and once atop the ridge, almost all lines beyond the south side of the ski area were still good to go, with a few rolls peeling away to reveal snow caves fifteen feet deep and still-smooth lines to the bottom of the bowl. While the unseasonably deep snow might be a burden upon trail-seeking tourists, it looks like the Cascade snowpack should remain rideable through much of the summer if you’re willing to put in the legwork. Viva touring season in Cascadia.