Baker area less exposed tours?

no offense Jayme, but thats a really poor recommendation when someone is looking for 'less exposed tours'

touring up the Ruth Creek Valley towards Hannegan Pass sends one past many avalanche paths with starting zones thousands of vf above. 


5.6-  a good multi-day destination off Hwy-2 that provides easy access to a variety of aspects and gladed terrain is around Union and Jove Peaks...start from Smithbrook Rd....I think that tour is covered in the Burgdorfer ski guide book.     The descent off the north side of Jove can be particularly nice. 

yeah, forget that reccomendation. Ruth Mt is a bad option until late spring at this point....if then. No offense taken.

Kendall Peak at snoqualmie: all around the Kendall lakes are nice gentle old growth non-exposure slopes. Approach via Kendall Knob, exit 53. Off the other side, of Kendall, the East and West sides are very dangerous areas however, so beware!

Also, I would highly rate the Whistler backcountry. There are many relatively unexposed areas...and those that are are approachable via ridgeline...thus somewhat safer.

-Jayme

yeah, forget that reccomendation. Ruth Mt is a bad option until late spring at this point....if then. No offense taken.

Yeah, it seems like there's not much around baker... it's all pretty steep. I'd like to find something up there, though, as it's the closest to home (I'm in B'ham.)

Any thoughts on Herman Saddle? I know the North face of Table tends to slide, but can you thread the needle there, or are you just caught between Herman and Table?

From the Baker ski area there are some decent less exposed lines. Just off the backside of blueberry cat track there are some mild fun slopes and from there you can safely access the ridge going up to Toward Table as well as some other short but fun descents.

Yeah, it seems like there's not much around baker... it's all pretty steep.  I'd like to find something up there, though, as it's the closest to home (I'm in B'ham.) 

Any thoughts on Herman Saddle?  I know the North face of Table tends to slide, but can you thread the needle there, or are you just caught between Herman and Table?

Also, I would highly rate the Whistler backcountry.  There are many relatively unexposed areas...and those that are are approachable via ridgeline...thus somewhat safer. 

-Jayme

Second that. Going from the Whistler side to Flute and then Oboe to Singing Pass, there are good lines through trees that you can choose if you're concerned about conditions. Beautiful scenery and, if you don't mind paying a backcountry lift ticket ($40 at Guest Services, show your gear and sign a waiver), you can get a 5000' elevation boost to start the day.

as someone who is in your same situation, i can see where you are coming from. HWY 2 and farther south is just too far to drive but Swift Creek is getting really old at this point.

I would not recommend the Herman saddle, the skin out means a long traverse under a slope that is just asking to slide. Also, if you want to ski more or less directly down the fall line from there, you will most likely end up in an avy chute, not the kind of place i would want to be caught on a dangerous day.

The south east side of table might be worth looking at given it is very unlikely that it will be wind loaded, but it is a slope that is poorly anchored and has seen plenty of activity.

goat mountain below the tree line would probably be a good bet but the trees are really thick and the snow might not be so deep farther down.

yep, its tough to find baker slackcountry other than Swift Creek that does not require travel through avy terrain to get too.