September 5, 2011, Mt Baker, Blueberry Chutes
9/5/11
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
3287
3
Emily was scheming at her birthday BBQ on Sunday and managed to talk a critical mass into going skiing for Labor Day. We only had a few hours, so we were in search of low-hanging fruit...
Headed to Heather Meadows and found a spot in the crowded lot. We brought grandma to babysit in a spectacular setting. Grandpa drew the right straw (not sure if it was short or long?) as he was quickly setting the pace up the trail to Artist Point. I fell in carrying birthday girls' skis and chatted with fellow TAYer Mark. Hopefully he hit Ptarmigan Ridge a little later in the day and got the goods!
We skied a 300-400' snowpatch from just above the top of the stairs for a warm up. Conditions, at about noon, were still pretty solid, and the suncups were acting bigger than they looked.
headin back up
Booted up for the main objective: The last continuous line in the Blueberry Chutes (center behind tree in pic)
We topped out and enjoyed the views of Shuksan, Baker, Goat, Ruth,..... it was Labor Day!
A group of three set off ahead of us, and by the time we were starting they were booting back up. The report was our scoped snow finger had a gap and wasn't skiable. While I considered proving them wrong, it was a mellow day and it did look steep. I had a rope and harness (just in case we stumbled upon something fun) so I talked Dad into skiing the main Blueberry Chute with me. The other two decided they'd go back and do a little snowpatch hopping skiers right.
The 30m rope just made it across the dirty heather ledges. Since I had given him my harness and belay device, Dad was kind enough to cut a ski bench at the bottom of the rap. A (ahem) tight diaper sling and munter hitch got me back to the snow and we were skiing!
easy rap over heather
looking up, we skied/rapped/skied center, had hoped to ski lookers right.
A great Labor Day ski with family and friends in this crazy year of so much lingering snow. It was great to see lots of skiers and boarders out enjoying it!
Headed to Heather Meadows and found a spot in the crowded lot. We brought grandma to babysit in a spectacular setting. Grandpa drew the right straw (not sure if it was short or long?) as he was quickly setting the pace up the trail to Artist Point. I fell in carrying birthday girls' skis and chatted with fellow TAYer Mark. Hopefully he hit Ptarmigan Ridge a little later in the day and got the goods!
We skied a 300-400' snowpatch from just above the top of the stairs for a warm up. Conditions, at about noon, were still pretty solid, and the suncups were acting bigger than they looked.
headin back up
Booted up for the main objective: The last continuous line in the Blueberry Chutes (center behind tree in pic)
We topped out and enjoyed the views of Shuksan, Baker, Goat, Ruth,..... it was Labor Day!
A group of three set off ahead of us, and by the time we were starting they were booting back up. The report was our scoped snow finger had a gap and wasn't skiable. While I considered proving them wrong, it was a mellow day and it did look steep. I had a rope and harness (just in case we stumbled upon something fun) so I talked Dad into skiing the main Blueberry Chute with me. The other two decided they'd go back and do a little snowpatch hopping skiers right.
The 30m rope just made it across the dirty heather ledges. Since I had given him my harness and belay device, Dad was kind enough to cut a ski bench at the bottom of the rap. A (ahem) tight diaper sling and munter hitch got me back to the snow and we were skiing!
easy rap over heather
looking up, we skied/rapped/skied center, had hoped to ski lookers right.
A great Labor Day ski with family and friends in this crazy year of so much lingering snow. It was great to see lots of skiers and boarders out enjoying it!
Nice report! Do you think the "lookers right" side still goes this weekend?
B)
B)
Glad to meet you folks out there, and glad to see you got some skiing in. I took a couple of laps on Ptarmigan Ridge--nothing too special, but a spectacular day out there. The whole Barometer Mountain herd was cooling itself at the Chain Lakes Trail intersection; they must be enjoying the absence of foot traffic this year just as I did.
I managed to crash ridiculously hard on the final drop above the parking lot, leaving plenty of pink snow and an irrevocably crushed ego, but aside from that it was a great September ski.
Mark
I managed to crash ridiculously hard on the final drop above the parking lot, leaving plenty of pink snow and an irrevocably crushed ego, but aside from that it was a great September ski.
Mark
All we found was ego crushing snow. Apparently it was still impressive to the parking lot hords, so maybe our standards are just too high!? ;D
Mtnmanb, you never know until you go... but if I were you I'd head out to Ptarmigan Ridge. That seemed to be where all the cool kids that knew something were heading.
Mtnmanb, you never know until you go... but if I were you I'd head out to Ptarmigan Ridge. That seemed to be where all the cool kids that knew something were heading.
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