Sep5, 2011, Mount Baker, Coleman-Deming
9/5/11
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2289
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Skied the Coleman-Deming Glaciers on Mount Baker on September 5, 2011. The route is in good shape and the skiing was quite acceptable. Hiked in via the Heliotrope Ridge trail and were able to put on the skis just below the Coleman Glacier at Hogsback camp. The avalanche debris in Grouse Creek (right at the start of the Heliotrope Ridge trail) is still present and warrants caution when crossing as the creek is running underneath and breaking through the snow would elicit a 15 foot+ fall.
The flowers on the Hogsback were incredible - it was vibrant and full of colour. From Hogsback camp we were able to skin all the way to Pumice Ridge. There was one notable large serac that tumbled off of Colfax Peak and stopped right on the climbers trail
About half of Pumice Ridge was not skiable (dirt) and needed to be walked. From there we skinned/cramponed up the Roman Headwall.
All the crevasses we crossed were well supported with strong bridges.
We were back at the Hogsback at around 5 pm and the snow was soft and carveable down the entire route. Suncups started below 8000 ft, although they were very skiable.
The flowers on the Hogsback were incredible - it was vibrant and full of colour. From Hogsback camp we were able to skin all the way to Pumice Ridge. There was one notable large serac that tumbled off of Colfax Peak and stopped right on the climbers trail
About half of Pumice Ridge was not skiable (dirt) and needed to be walked. From there we skinned/cramponed up the Roman Headwall.
All the crevasses we crossed were well supported with strong bridges.
We were back at the Hogsback at around 5 pm and the snow was soft and carveable down the entire route. Suncups started below 8000 ft, although they were very skiable.
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