January 26, 2014, Mt. Baker

Did a bit more driving than usual so I could take my daughter up to Mt Baker, she'd never skied there before. Beautiful, beautiful day. Both mountains looked amazing. Top parts of ranges north pretty too, but there you could really see the dearth of snow below 4K.

Temps were nice, not shirt sleeves but was comfy in just a couple layers, and no hat needed. Good enough to soften the snow on anything groomed. As far as anything NOT groomed, there's the rub. None of that really was softening. Most of Baker's double blacks are currently closed because they are relentless pockmarked raincrust. The snow cover for these really would otherwise be fine, but in current state, they def look like No Fun. But the groomers were fun. Our fave was probably Blueberry. Coverage is basically as good as Steven's is, as far as it's seldom that the main runs (other than those closed doubleblacks) had anything to noticeably avoid.

First time I have seen Baker's new Raven lodge. What an awesome facility. Stately full-tree-log joists and beams left exposed, really nice windows and millwork details, a cozy topfloor. Decent chow including draft Ninkasi/Stone for 5 bucks. And the most posh slopeside bathroom I have ever seen, even by UT and CO standards. Baker now has BOTH of the best lodges in WA. Why can't Summit knock down about half dozen or so of their cheapass base cardboard claptraps to make room, and build at least one decent, appealing lodge? Would it be "too good" for their clientele or something?

For a Sunday, real quiet. Too quiet for a January Sunday. Never any lines, WS lot not even 1/3 full.

was the television on?
go visit the new silver fir lodge.
mt. shuksan is a nice place!
bob

Speaking of lodges - Sun Valley. Can't recall was a long time ago, might have been Seattle Ridge. The bathroom "stalls" were actually small rooms with marble floors, chair rail and 6-panel solid wood doors.