Mt baker terrain map

are there any good maps/books that discuss the various backcountry (non-touring) routes at baker?<br><br>i was up last weekend and could see everything, but i would like to know the names, and some of the issues involved with the different runs.<br><br>shuksan arm looks like the best terrain. i am aware of the avalanche danger. are there some specific areas that have historically been especially avy prone?<br><br>i read about the '99 slide right above rumble gully. it would be nice to see a map with a listing of some of the especially unstable runs.<br><br>i know the best solution is to go with someone who knows the area, but it would still be valuable to see an introduction to the area, informed by historical experience. thanks.

<br>sorry if i'm providing information you already have, but rainer burgdorfer's book has a couple short tours that start from the ski area: herman saddle, lake anne butte, coleman pinnacle. a lot of the frontcountry skiing happens along those routes. he does provide an avalanche rating. <br><br>from my limited experience - and probably the locals will chime in - south side of table sluffs notoriously but if the skin track is far enough down in the valley, not a problem. a lot of the chutes on the n side of table slide all the way to the valley bottom. there is also a notorious spot along the road to artist point where 3 snowshoers were buried last year.<br><br>one thing i try to keep in mind is that the prevailing winds are from the w, sw, so n, ne aspects get windloaded. it's too bad that the telemetry site for baker does not have a wind sensor...

Uh oh! Now, there's a ball of wax!!<br><br>Your instincts are right -- go with someone who knows the area. That's the easy answer. I think most locals are somewhat reluctant to embrace the idea of making everything easy and accessible to the casual visitor. Right now, the more you ski the Baker bc, the more you learn. There are those who like it that way.<br><br><br>There is a more disturbing answer to your request. For the last several years I have been accumulating materials for a DVD version of the guide you seek. The main menu opens to an ariel view of the entire Baker backcountry. You click on an area, such as Shuksan Arm or Lake Ann, and you are zoomed to a sub-menu which is an ariel view close-up of your chosen area. Lines appear in various colors. These are the main runs, color coded for difficulty. Click on a run and you get some stills, some avi information, the skin route, and a clip or two of that run being skied -- full motion, DVD quality powder porn.<br><br>There is a problem I am seeing. I've known all along that, if I publish this, the locals will kill me dead. So I have arranged to have it published posthumously. In that way I need not share my secrets in my lifetime, the locals won't do me in, and -- bonus -- the locals have a vested interest in keeping me alive. After all, when I go, there go their stashes!<br><br>Now I am realizing a flaw in my plan. There are occasional visitors that would love to have DVD-guided access to the heart of the goods. I have created a reason for perfect strangers to take pot-shots at me on the streets!! My God, what have I done!!<br><br> <br>

Gabe - no one would want to ruin your "personal discovery zone." <br><br>The good news is that there is a lot of terrain to ski. With good avy sense, an explorer's spirit, observation of the tracks of others (which can of course be red herrings - or worse - just like flagging on a bushwhack, e.g. I often see tracks up high on the S. side of Table which has those notorious slides/sluffs ema mentions), and a bit of info from the guide that ema mentions, I suspect you can find years of fun up that way. It's worked out that way for me...

the locals have a vested interest in keeping me alive....After all, when I go, there go their stashes!

<br><br>Yes, Tim's arranged to be more valuable alive than dead: a wise maneuver under the circumstances, although the balance could shift at any time.  <br><br>As far as the original question (and other, similar questions which have popped up from time to time), it's unlikely that anyone will offer really detailed instructions on-line?especially when the question relates to easily accessible, demonstrably dangerous terrain.  It's a friendly area, however, and it's not difficult to make local connections; wandering around with eyes and ears open is also highly effective.  I'd recommend doing this in times of good visibility, since (especially this year) there are all sorts of lurking hazards.<br><br>When making this sort of request or when posting in search of backcountry partners, you'll probably get a more agreeable response  if you also describe yourself: experience, training, preferred terrain, avalanche awareness, etc.  When I read a first post under an anonymous pseudonym asking without preamble for a guide to the backcountry steeps, I pretty much keep my distance.  <br><br>Hope that helps,<br><br>Mark<br><br>PS: Jim, there was a rumour you might be traveling with Silas tomorrow.  If so, see you up there.

I think most locals are somewhat reluctant to embrace the idea of making everything easy and accessible to the casual visitor.

<br><br>Why? I don't think I agree with the notion of hiding backcountry ski areas. Most of us are weekend warriors with a limited amount of time in the backcountry, if we share the exact spots where we find good skiing we can more effectively use our limited backcountry time. Go ahead and publish your DVD Tim, I'll be your first customer.<br><br>"The world would be a better place if everyone shared their secret stashes." - Me<br><br><br>