November 26, 2005, Heliotrope Ridge
11/26/05
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
3627
7
Since our initial plans to venture up onto the Boulder-Park Cleaver were thwarted by the breakdown of the high pressure window by the weekend, Ben Kaufman and I kicked around some other ideas in the vicinity of Baker. We decided on Heliotrope Ridge, due to the far greater crowds that would likely be present at the end of SR542.
We were a bit concerned about the conversion, since it was still quite warm up around Baker compared to Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes by Friday evening, and not much fresh had fallen. However, reports were temps dropped dramatically after 1am. We began skinning at milepost 7 and soon thereafter, it dumped huge flakes profusely.
The coverage going up through the woods behind the trailhead restrooms was meager at best. After a creek crossing and back out into the opening, the snow showers let up and the conditions were amazing. Breaking trail was quite laborous as we headed up a steep open slope adjacent to the trees, but a great workout. The rain crust ended up being several inches down, and only evident up higher. We soon topped out on the slopes just below Marmot Ridge, with Baker in all her glory with an on-again off-again lenticular.
It was quite clear from the skin on the upper open slopes and the initial turns that the substantial amount of fresh which had fallen above treeline had bonded nicely. The descent was absolutely amazing. As Ben absorbed the faceshots he uttered it doesn't get much better than this. 8)
We were a bit concerned about the conversion, since it was still quite warm up around Baker compared to Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes by Friday evening, and not much fresh had fallen. However, reports were temps dropped dramatically after 1am. We began skinning at milepost 7 and soon thereafter, it dumped huge flakes profusely.
The coverage going up through the woods behind the trailhead restrooms was meager at best. After a creek crossing and back out into the opening, the snow showers let up and the conditions were amazing. Breaking trail was quite laborous as we headed up a steep open slope adjacent to the trees, but a great workout. The rain crust ended up being several inches down, and only evident up higher. We soon topped out on the slopes just below Marmot Ridge, with Baker in all her glory with an on-again off-again lenticular.
It was quite clear from the skin on the upper open slopes and the initial turns that the substantial amount of fresh which had fallen above treeline had bonded nicely. The descent was absolutely amazing. As Ben absorbed the faceshots he uttered it doesn't get much better than this. 8)
Nice one. A family ski trip kept me away, otherwise I'd have come along. How does the glacier look with the new base?
sounds beautiful, its rare that we get these oppurtunities to skin out at 1 am and find cold blower here in the northwest. Cheers!
Justin - Glacier looked good to go. I'll send my pics to your email next day or so, since I don't have a website to link 'em.
Nice timing for the fresh pow and clear skies! What is the winter access like on that glacier creek road? Did you start from a plowed snowpark or do you need a 4x4 or snowmobile to get within striking range of the trailhead?
Parked 100 feet beyond mile 7, so only had to skin roughly 1 mile to the trailhead. This may be quite different after this week however as we nailed it right after that long high pressure window when the road had clearly melted out to bare pavement.
Hey, where'd your faceshot picture go? ;) ???
It's still on my camera, and was sent to you guys on Saturday..... 8)
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