February 7, 2004, Mount Baker
2/7/04
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2944
3
Saturday was the day for Derek and me to see what Mount Baker has to offer. An early start got us ready in early darkness at 1400 ft at the Baker Lake Road. It was kind of misty and cloudy so we were hoping that it will clear up later in the day. So we followed the fresh groomed track all the way up to Schriebers Meadow. This part was not really exciting and the misty rain caused some sticking at our skins. Further up were 1" to 2" of fresh snow. The misty rain made it even more sticky and we took off our skins at 2800 ft and experienced skinless skinning for a while. Towards Schriebers Meadow the rain turned into a little bit of snowfall and finally stopped. By the time we reached Schriebers Meadow the first snow mobilers made their appearance. The visibility was changing for the whole time but seemed to improve so. We cut off the tracks of the snow mobilers and skinned along them later on to reach a little knob. By now the sun came out and released some sluffs from the moraine crest west of us but otherwise the conditions were pretty stable with awesome snow, a little bit packed in the windward exposure. From the little knob we followed a ridge which started right there. We followed the ridge as it seemed pretty much straight forward. As it cleared up we realized to be right in front of the crevasse fields and the change of visibility from near white out and clear within minutes convinced us to return at 5547 ft. So we skied down the steep bit on the ridge we skipped on the way up. Underneath 12" of dry settled snow was an icy crust we hit as we skied this bit, but not much of it came off at all. We followed back our track towards a little knob where we stopped and skied the by now snow mobile tracked slope of it. Some snow mobilers were waiting down there for whatever reason and the next thing one did was to race the slope we just skied. It was kinf of strange to see all the slopes tracked by snow mobilers. The way back to the car was now kind of tiring with the gentle angle of the road back to the car. The snow further down, below 2700 ft was pretty soft by now and not much was left even on the groomed track in some places. Skiing through the trees was no option with the snow cover there. As we got to the car everything seemed so out of place. We were surrounded by a hell lot of cars, trailors and snow mobiles. But the high point we reached was pretty inspiring and gave us a great taste of Mount Baker.
Good report, but sorry about the snowmobilers.
I used to be the caretaker of the Park Butte lookout above Morovitz's Meadows, but gave it up when snowmobilers were allowed onto the plateaus in the area. That resulted from a bad concession in the negotiations that created the Mt Baker/Diobsud Wilderness area.
If you get back up on the S. side of Baker, try Boulder ridge. Much better isolation, and crevasse-free skiiing to 9500 ft elevation.
I used to be the caretaker of the Park Butte lookout above Morovitz's Meadows, but gave it up when snowmobilers were allowed onto the plateaus in the area. That resulted from a bad concession in the negotiations that created the Mt Baker/Diobsud Wilderness area.
If you get back up on the S. side of Baker, try Boulder ridge. Much better isolation, and crevasse-free skiiing to 9500 ft elevation.
Thanks for the report Matthaeus. That was an adventurous undertaking!
Tim, I am curious about the various approaches to Baker in the winter, and you seem like someone who would know. With conditions like they are now, do you know how access would compare for the Easton, Boulder, and Coleman routes?
Tim, I am curious about the various approaches to Baker in the winter, and you seem like someone who would know. With conditions like they are now, do you know how access would compare for the Easton, Boulder, and Coleman routes?
Well, getting to Mt. Baker in the winter is a bit of a hump no matter how you look at it. The route you choose will depend on whether you just want to ski, or if summitting is a priority.
1. Shcreiber/Morovitz Meadows/Easton Glacier: Matthaeus knows this better than I. Sounds like about 4 miles of road to the trailhead,and from there it is another 3 miles getting on to the glacier, above the railroad grade. Say, seven miles and 4000 ft. elevation gain. If you just have to go in this way, take the Paul Scott trail to the Sulpher Moraine to get away frrom the stink pots.
2. Boulder Ridge: the road is passable to 2000 ft., which is about a mile plus change and 700 ft. elevation gain from the trailhead. Then the trail takes about 4 miles to get to skiable snow. Maybe five miles and 4000 ft. elevation gain.
3. Coleman Glacier/Heliotope Ridge: I am not sure how far the road is open, but it is on the North side of the Mountain. I would guess that you would be traveling 4 or five miles of road. Then it is about 3.5 miles to the top of the Hogsback. Sounds like maybe 8 miles and 4100 ft. elevation gain. This would give the best snow.
4. For Winter summitting, consider skiing in from the ski area along Ptarmigan Ridge. It is about 7 miles to the Park Glacier, but the elevation gain is only about 2000 ft.
1. Shcreiber/Morovitz Meadows/Easton Glacier: Matthaeus knows this better than I. Sounds like about 4 miles of road to the trailhead,and from there it is another 3 miles getting on to the glacier, above the railroad grade. Say, seven miles and 4000 ft. elevation gain. If you just have to go in this way, take the Paul Scott trail to the Sulpher Moraine to get away frrom the stink pots.
2. Boulder Ridge: the road is passable to 2000 ft., which is about a mile plus change and 700 ft. elevation gain from the trailhead. Then the trail takes about 4 miles to get to skiable snow. Maybe five miles and 4000 ft. elevation gain.
3. Coleman Glacier/Heliotope Ridge: I am not sure how far the road is open, but it is on the North side of the Mountain. I would guess that you would be traveling 4 or five miles of road. Then it is about 3.5 miles to the top of the Hogsback. Sounds like maybe 8 miles and 4100 ft. elevation gain. This would give the best snow.
4. For Winter summitting, consider skiing in from the ski area along Ptarmigan Ridge. It is about 7 miles to the Park Glacier, but the elevation gain is only about 2000 ft.
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