Feb. 3,2008, Mt.Baker Ski Area

The Baker ski hill doesn't seem to get much attention here, so I thought that I would remind people that there is an option to Crystal and Alpental that doesn't "sux".With the knowledge that much of the "civilized" world would be grinding to a halt because of the Super Bowl, my son,Gabe, and I decided to head south and ski in the States. We meet buddy, Tom and fellow TAYer, Traventine at Maple Falls and carpooled up together. More than normal amount of telemarkers were playing it safe by skiing inbounds. There may have been lots of AT people also, but they tend to blend in with the garden variety downhill skiers.

We were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by sunshine for the morning. The mountain is certainly not lacking for snow and it was nice to have the views and vis. For once, "packed powder" accurately described the snow conditions. We avoided the cruisers and found very ski able runs on all of the blacks. We even ventured through the cliffs east of Gabi's run; a first for all of us. Two of the photos are from that area.We did not experience any lineups, which is always a big plus when you are paying to go skiing.

While we did carry beacons, the 3 telemarkers of our group had made a decision at the car to remain inbounds. Traventine had an opportunity to join a friend beyond the gates and took it. He can add his two bits worth if he chooses.We observed a small number of people heading towards Herman's Saddle. I did not see any bc skiers climbing in the Austin Pass area while skiing the Pan face area.Hopefully conditions will improve enough soon for me to feel comfortable out there.

The Baker ski hill doesn't seem to get much attention here, so I thought that I would remind people that there is an option to Crystal and Alpental that doesn't "sux".

Baker is phenomenal but a 8+ hour drive round trip from Tacoma so while it is an "option" it's not a viable one. Crystal doesn't really suck. It just frustrates us sometimes.

Telemon, I was at Baker on Saturday and have been thinking about the conditions in the backcountry.  The Canyon was closed, but we were a bit surprised to find the backcountry open.  We went out the gate at the top of chair 5.  Of course we were asked to show our avy gear but were not asked if we knew how to use it(we do).  Many people were heading out and tracks began showing up everywhere.  There was a small release right at the top of chair 8, people put in a boot path right next to it.

The powder was crazy deep (great riding!) but I could not get rid of a nagging feeling that I should not be there.   I felt that the only reason I was out there was that the backcountry was "open" and everyone else was doing it so it must be safe.  I don't think I would have been on that slope if it was out in the middle of nowhere.  I was relieved to get back to the safety of Gabl's and decided that it would be my only run out of bounds for the day.   

We didn't dig a pit so we really didn't know what the snowpack was like on the specific aspects we were riding.  We could see evidence of slides on a variety of nearby slopes.  By the end of the day Hemispheres was tracked out and we saw folks heading up the arm.  I'm not aware of anyone getting caught, so I wonder if I was being "avy paranoid".  Conditions were excellent in bounds with powder/ packed powder and short lift lines.  Baker rules!

Bakers B.C is always open regardless of avalanche danger.Don't think you are any safer because you entered the B.C through a gate. If you wouldn't ski that terrain in the middle of nowhere you should have went with you instincts and stayed inbounds.

I got in three runs out of bounds on our Sunday trip.  Two were just to skiers left of Gabi's same as Detekt.  Then one run booting up the hill from 8 and then skiing down to the Elf Chutes to the top of the Canyon, definitely the best run.   This is a beautiful route.

The avy hazard was forecast as High to Considerable, and there were several good sized natural slab slides that you could see in very steep zones of Shuksan arm across from the top of Chair 8.  There were many people out in the BC, perhaps an illustration of the blue sky syndrome.  At certain times you could see a parade booting up from 8.

Despite the forecast, I did not see, hear, or feel any evidence of instability in the areas I went out of bounds.  A foot or more of nice powder grading into firmer snow with no crust below.  I have to admit that one of the big justifications I made for going out was the many dozens of tracks that had gone before through both areas I skied.  No way that this means there is no hazard, but I do believe it mitigates it - you could say that prior skiers had done a pretty good job of ski cutting.

Or, maybe it's evidence of a lemming brainlessly following prior lemmings.

Anyway, thanks to Telemon, Gabe, Tom, and Joe for some great skiing.

I have never used the thumbnail tags before. So we will see if a technology-challenged person like myself can figure it out.
Tom riding the cow.

Gabe.