September 20, Heliotrope Ridge, Mt Baker

Left a packed trailhead at the crack of 12:30 and hiked in hot sun through the lovely forest. At the top of the Hogsback I had to hike an unexpected additional 400 vertical feet to find a workable finger of snow on to the lower Coleman. Last September I was able to skin from part way up the Hogsback, at least 600 feet lower. Hard suncups gave way to fairly soft snow with slushy water ice patches, the sound of water roaring in the depths below. After skinning up 1,010€™ by altimeter to meet my self-imposed 1,000€™ criteria I pulled skins and had a surprisingly good (non-sticky) ski down. Un-tempted to do another lap, dinner at Milano€™s was just reward for getting September in the books!