May 23-24, 2008, Mt. Baker, Boulder Glacier

This was a joint ACC-Vancouver and BCMC trip organized by Dan Friedmann. The access road (NFD 1130 and NFD 1131) was free of snow till 100 m before the last switchback (as of Sunday, 24 May 2009) or about a kilometer before the Boulder Creek Trailhead sign. The snow cover is thin and going fast it is quite possible the road will be driveable all the way this weekend.

The Boulder Creek trail is mostly snow free, we walked for about 2.5 km before snow was good enough to ski on. Boulder glacier is magnificent and more direct than Coleman Glacier. Spectacular route, great skiing too. We left our camp on the ridge (1800 m) at 4:45 AM on hard snow. Skied unroped all the way up making a small detour around a crevasse at 3000m and made it to the top around 11 AM. Crampons, ice ax required; ski crampons came handy as well. Skied down around noon. It would have been better to ski down an hour earlier (better snow below 2500 m but possibly still hard and icy above 3100m).

Boulder Glacier was pure serenity.
My new favourite way to the summit.
Did not hear or see any sleds. There were two other parties.


Slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningclouds/sets/72157618944301134/