Safe Touring near Baker

So I was going to be going up to Baker over the T-giving break and I was wondering if there was a route that was devoid of Avy Danger and if not, what routes were low risk. The Beacons are on order and the Avy classes are registered for, but I would love to get up to Artist's Point while the weather is stable and clear. The Avy course is still weeks away.<br>If it isn't safe I am comfortable riding the lifts, but I see snowshoers and guys on light xc gear leaving the lot so maybe there's a good route...

You would have a hard time finding trouble around Artist's point until it snows again!

yeah i wouldn't worry about it, as long as it doesnt snow, ita about as safe as it gets.

Okay, now that there is a new layer on top, what sorts of tours are there around Mt. Baker that are relatively deviod of avy danger. I managed to get a beacon but I'm from PA where we don't worry about snow moving. As I want to dive into the BC, I would love to get out onto Ptarmagin Ridge, up to Artist's Point, or over on Shuskan Arm...but I don't have any experience for judging snow pits. I know what to do, but it seems that the tools for detecting snow stability are only useful if you have something to compare them against.<br><br>So, is there a tame tour that I could head out on so that I could dig some pits and start evaluating snow pack before I head up to a slope that is sketchy? Maybe I should asking if anyone is planning a tour that I could follow along on. I wouldn't even be tracking out powder, I just want to learn where to go and why to go there.<br><br>Thanks in advance<br><br>Jason in Bellingham

hey jason, email me (in my profile)<br><br>

Jason, I appreciate your attitude of taking this stuff seriously and wanting to learn to do it right, instead of just doing it.<br><br>My first and foremost suggestion is to sign up for a beginning avi class, such as the Baker Mt. Safety Seminars: www.mtbaker.us/mec/100.html <br><br>Not only will this get you started down the road of snowpack analysis, you will meet folks in the same boat you are in. They can be valuable partners in learning.<br><br>Until such a class becomes available, read anything everything you can about avalanches, get to know the basics and the language. You will get much more out of the seminars if you have a little knowledge going in. I would suggest Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper, or anything by Jill Fredston, Doug Fesler or Ed LaChapelle. (I can loan you some of this -- PM me)<br><br>You should be able to travel safely on the road past Austin Pass to the Artist's point area. You should be able to find folks up there digging pits; they are usually willing to talk. You will probably also get invited to tag along with some folks, once you get the requisite avi gear (Transceiver, shovel, probe). Be carefui on this one -- there seem to be no short supply of backcounty posers up at Baker who know dangerously little about what they are playing with out there!<br>