June 10, 2012, Mt Baker Easton Glacier
6/10/12
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
1430
0
We were able to drive to about 3.8 miles from the junction of Road 12 and 13. So less than 2 miles to the trail head.
We camped Saturday night on the road along with many snowmobilers (mobile homes and all). Shared a little too much Black Velvet, beer and Fireball with them so we got a late start in the morning.
There was about 200 feet of snow on the road and then maybe a half to 3/4 mile of clear road before the snow was continuous on the road. Almost all of the Meadows up to 5000 was SM tracks. They did not go higher due to the white out conditions on Saturday. From 4500 to 6700 was white out, but warm and no wind. The snow was thick and trail breaking was a little work.
Once above 6700 feet we were above the clouds and had perfect weather up to about 9000 when the wind really started picking up. We met a group from AAI coming down from halfway up the Roman Wall. They turned around due to snow instability. This pretty much confirmed what we were thinking and decided to turn around and ski down.
The wind was now a constant 30 mph, but sunny. The snow was thick concrete and the AT skiers were having a lot more success than the Tele group.
The clouds now had risen to about 7700 feet and were thick. We had wanded the route on the way up, but we could not even see each other if we were more than 25 feet away. It was hard just to see the skin track on the way down even when it was at your feet. Slow manky close quartered skiing all the way to 5200 feet where we finally got below the clouds.
Fun ski out. Due to car problems we had to coast from the TH all the way down Baker Lake Road and then get a tow home.
Fun adventures all around.
We camped Saturday night on the road along with many snowmobilers (mobile homes and all). Shared a little too much Black Velvet, beer and Fireball with them so we got a late start in the morning.
There was about 200 feet of snow on the road and then maybe a half to 3/4 mile of clear road before the snow was continuous on the road. Almost all of the Meadows up to 5000 was SM tracks. They did not go higher due to the white out conditions on Saturday. From 4500 to 6700 was white out, but warm and no wind. The snow was thick and trail breaking was a little work.
Once above 6700 feet we were above the clouds and had perfect weather up to about 9000 when the wind really started picking up. We met a group from AAI coming down from halfway up the Roman Wall. They turned around due to snow instability. This pretty much confirmed what we were thinking and decided to turn around and ski down.
The wind was now a constant 30 mph, but sunny. The snow was thick concrete and the AT skiers were having a lot more success than the Tele group.
The clouds now had risen to about 7700 feet and were thick. We had wanded the route on the way up, but we could not even see each other if we were more than 25 feet away. It was hard just to see the skin track on the way down even when it was at your feet. Slow manky close quartered skiing all the way to 5200 feet where we finally got below the clouds.
Fun ski out. Due to car problems we had to coast from the TH all the way down Baker Lake Road and then get a tow home.
Fun adventures all around.
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