Blueberry or Swift Avy risk?

Hello to all.

I just was hoping to hear the experiences of the riders here.

Has anyone seen, experienced, or heard of any avalanches in Blueberry Chutes or Swift Creek? I wished to know, what were the circumstances at the time, if this has occurred. Of course, if no one is aware of a slide here, I wouldn't take this to indicate that it doesn't occur. It would seem to be a rare occurence given the maritime climate, aspect, and terrain, especially on the Blueberry side. How about the gulley at the bottom?

Thanks in advance.

George

Hi George,

I'm afraid I can't help. It might be good if you could provide a little more information with your query. Are Blueberry Chutes and Swift Creek near the Mt Baker ski area? (Just guessing.) This may be a no-brainier for anyone who can actually answer your question, but for the rest of us, it's a head-scratcher.

--Lowell Skoog

I'm sorry.

Yes, just outside Mt. Baker ski area, south of the Heather Meadows parking lot, up the trail towards Artist Pt. and over the back of the ridge you face as you climb. I believe this area is called Blueberry Chutes and to the east a little, Swift, as in Swift Creek.

Thanks again.

Here's a report of 2003 accident nearby, on a north aspect slope. Pretty interesting story!

www.nwac.us/text_version/Mt_Baker_Snowsh...ccident_12_12_03.htm

George,

On the maps, the ridge that Artist Point sits on is called Kulshan Ridge. The ridge runs NW-SE, and Blueberry Chutes are on the NE aspect.
Both streams on the NE and SW sides of Kulshan Ridge feed Swift Creek, so I'm not certain of what you calling the Swift Creek Chutes.

And with that windup, yes, I have experienced high avie conditions in the Blueberry Chutes - it is, after all, why there are chutes there. Last winter during one of the late winter storms we had about 12 inches that hadn't bonded well to the snowpack below. Pretty much anything with a Northern aspect was cutting loose with ski cutting. It made for some very careful terrain selection, and even despite that I was taken for one ride for about 400'. Be careful.

Hello to all.

I just was hoping to hear the experiences of the riders here.

Has anyone seen, experienced, or heard of any avalanches in Blueberry Chutes or Swift Creek? I wished to know, what were the circumstances at the time, if this has occurred. Of course, if no one is aware of a slide here, I wouldn't take this to indicate that it doesn't occur. It would seem to be a rare occurence given the maritime climate, aspect, and terrain, especially on the Blueberry side. How about the gulley at the bottom?

Thanks in advance.

George

Blueberry - the old rope tow is avalanche terrain. Of note was a 13' slab there in 1990 right of the hairpin on the road. In stormy or post stormy periods I would think that is prime terrain.

As to Swift Creek, it all depends on where. Nearer the road, the terrain is well broken, but beneath Artist Point, it is very steep and lee. V-shaped creek bottoms throught that area also merit attention and good route-finding.