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Mt. Baker snow texture conditions?
- skierguitarist
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16 years 7 months ago #187672
by skierguitarist
Mt. Baker snow texture conditions? was created by skierguitarist
Thinking I need another "phyiscal fitness" conditioning climb, was wondering what the latest snow texture is for Mt. Baker ski routes: rough/suncupped (how badley?), smooth--worth doing considering the drive from Bend..... thanks for any info!!!
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- Telemon
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16 years 7 months ago #187674
by Telemon
Replied by Telemon on topic Re: Mt. Baker snow texture conditions?
These photos (on both pages) from a week ago should give you some idea as to the snow conditions, at least out to Ptarmigan Ridge.
telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=58978
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- James Wells
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16 years 7 months ago #187675
by James Wells
Replied by James Wells on topic Re: Mt. Baker snow texture conditions?
BTW USFS says that the road will open to Artist Point on Tuesday July 14th. Days which are soon after that date are a good opportunity to get to the Sholes and similar places with more touring and less hiking.
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- markharf
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16 years 7 months ago #187676
by markharf
Replied by markharf on topic Re: Mt. Baker snow texture conditions?
As I understand the OP, he's asking about routes to Mt. Baker's summit--a question not very closely related to the one which is being answered with reports of conditions on Ptarmigan Ridge.
I have not skied on Baker this year, but in the absence of recent first hand reports I'm willing to speculate based on past experiences. The best conditions are usually on the north and east exposures. Unfortunately, the Coleman Deming route now includes an unpleasant uphill road hike or bike ride---the result of a road washout and resultant closure. This accomplished, I bet conditions are pretty good, with crevasses opening but not terrifyingly large, and surfaces lightly suncupped and runneled down to near treeline. Choosing the right snow finger might allow skiing to 5000 feet or so, just into the trees on the summer trail.
The east side Boulder/Park Cleaver is probably looking wonderful right now....once you've made the slog through the mosquito-infested forests and swamps starting at 2500 feet. This makes a long day, although it's been worth it each of the times I've gone that way; others overnight at the bottom of the cleaver. But I doubt the upper reaches of the Boulder Glacier are still skiable, so the top of the cleaver is probably as far as you'll get on that route.
On the south side, the Easton is probably pretty runneled by now, although it should still be possible to find skiing lines through the crevasses. You'd expect big, hungry crevasses, though. The Squak is usually noticeably less runneled and cupped, and should still have some nice lines on it starting around treeline or maybe a bit higher. Unfortunately, it pushes you around onto the Easton, where the skiing is a lot less fun (not to say torturous). There are a few big crevasses which open high on the Squak, and I don't remember that I've bothered trying to go higher on that route this time of year.
Of course, if the OP is thinking about two or three day routes, lots of possibilities might open. What's a five mile, uphill mountain bike ride if you're spending a long weekend playing around on skis in the alpine?
Enough empty speculation? Surely someone, somewhere can provide a firsthand report.
Hope that helps.
Mark
I have not skied on Baker this year, but in the absence of recent first hand reports I'm willing to speculate based on past experiences. The best conditions are usually on the north and east exposures. Unfortunately, the Coleman Deming route now includes an unpleasant uphill road hike or bike ride---the result of a road washout and resultant closure. This accomplished, I bet conditions are pretty good, with crevasses opening but not terrifyingly large, and surfaces lightly suncupped and runneled down to near treeline. Choosing the right snow finger might allow skiing to 5000 feet or so, just into the trees on the summer trail.
The east side Boulder/Park Cleaver is probably looking wonderful right now....once you've made the slog through the mosquito-infested forests and swamps starting at 2500 feet. This makes a long day, although it's been worth it each of the times I've gone that way; others overnight at the bottom of the cleaver. But I doubt the upper reaches of the Boulder Glacier are still skiable, so the top of the cleaver is probably as far as you'll get on that route.
On the south side, the Easton is probably pretty runneled by now, although it should still be possible to find skiing lines through the crevasses. You'd expect big, hungry crevasses, though. The Squak is usually noticeably less runneled and cupped, and should still have some nice lines on it starting around treeline or maybe a bit higher. Unfortunately, it pushes you around onto the Easton, where the skiing is a lot less fun (not to say torturous). There are a few big crevasses which open high on the Squak, and I don't remember that I've bothered trying to go higher on that route this time of year.
Of course, if the OP is thinking about two or three day routes, lots of possibilities might open. What's a five mile, uphill mountain bike ride if you're spending a long weekend playing around on skis in the alpine?
Enough empty speculation? Surely someone, somewhere can provide a firsthand report.
Hope that helps.
Mark
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- Amar Andalkar
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16 years 7 months ago - 16 years 7 months ago #187732
by Amar Andalkar
Replied by Amar Andalkar on topic Re: Mt. Baker snow texture conditions?
Well, there's now 5 recent TRs here and on CC covering 6 different summit ski routes:
July 15th, Mt Baker, Squak Glacier
July 15-16, 2009, Mt Baker via Boulder Glacier
Mt. Baker - Park Headwall +... 7/16/2009 (includes Coleman Headwall info)
Mt. Baker - Park Glacier 7/18/2009 (climbing TR, but good photos of surface conditions)
July 19th Easton to crater
July 15th, Mt Baker, Squak Glacier
July 15-16, 2009, Mt Baker via Boulder Glacier
Mt. Baker - Park Headwall +... 7/16/2009 (includes Coleman Headwall info)
Mt. Baker - Park Glacier 7/18/2009 (climbing TR, but good photos of surface conditions)
July 19th Easton to crater
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