November 11, 2004, South side Mt. Baker
11/11/04
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2567
2
Along with Tod Eastman and Pat Norwil, and two dogs, I skiied from Schrieber Meadow, 3400 ft, to Cragview, 6500 ft, on the south side of Mt. Baker. The idea was to stay in pleasant thawed snow and bright sunshine and avoid northern exposures (see Table Mtn report for the same day). Plus, the route goes high, is totally straightforward, and the scenery is stunning. Skiing was excellent thawed springlike, continuous down to about 4500 feet. Not deep, but deep enough, and dense enough, to protect the skis.
Encouraging report.
Went up and checked out the run that Todd and Pat scoped out the other day. Definitely not the same weather. Raining at the car but soon turned to snow once on the trail. Higher up there was 2-3 inches of sticky snow on top of a firm crust closer to treeline. The kind of snow that likes to ball up on your skins until each ski weighs 15lbs. A few boulders hidden under the snow but you can avoid (most of) them. It was trying to snow hard enough to cover our tracks by the way down. Looks like more for later this week. THINK SNOW, THINK SNOW, THINK SNOW!!!!! Cloud level was about 6000' so that is where we turned around.
Not the greatest of days but it felt good to be making some turns and seeing white stuff fall out of the sky.
Not the greatest of days but it felt good to be making some turns and seeing white stuff fall out of the sky.
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