Mass Alpinism?

So I'm not posting this as a rant. Just curious what you'all think.

So on June 3rd, the The Mount Baker Ultra race will be held; a "55 mile out and back foot race from the town of Concrete Washington to Mount Baker's Sherman peak"

"After 26 miles competitors will ascend the Squak glacier traversing over a mile and a half of fixed ropes."

www.mtbakerultra.com/overview/

1. No way am I at this level of fitness.....

2. The race was inspired by the 1911 Bellingham to Baker race. My great uncle, Henry Engberg, was one of the "organizers" and I heard many stories about it from my uncle, Paul Engberg, when I was growing up. It was a very impressive feat of endurance by the folks who took part. Henry Engberg also engaged in somewhat questionable syndications of gold mines in Alaska and was caught bootlegging gin out of the basement of his pharmacy in B'ham.

But a mile and a half of fixed rope? So a crowd can do it without offending the insurance companies?

Just thinking out loud.

Steve

Doesn't bother me, especially if they are true to their goal of supporting development of continuous trail from Bellingham to Mt. Baker.

50 racers on the Squak and Sherman Pk seems OK. Wouldn't be surprised if 1.5 miles of fixed rope really means glacier travel with some fixed rope in places.

I'm all for boot-leggin gin!!!

I'm afraid there are no reports of how good the gin was! But soon after the family moved to Seattle, supposedly because of the general lack of community approval.....

Approval can be elusive and I don't have boot--leggin as an excuse....yet...

As the route up Baker ascends in the area within the non-Wilderness slice that the snow machines utilize, there should not be any administrative issues. The summit is not part of that slice so perhaps an additional permit was needed.

With so many guided parties up there, who gives a $hit

True. It is not the end of the world. And really not that big of a deal. Just not something I could have imagined 30 years ago when first I skied it.

More human powered than machine powered.

I think this is a win.