December 29, 2002, Mount Baker Backcountry

After last weekend's memorable thrash through the Goat Mountain slide alder, the few folks still willing to ski with me stated a preference for more skiing with less of an approach this time, so we debarked in the upper ski area parking lot a bit before nine and headed for Herman Saddle.  Visions of deep, untouched powder were immediately squelched by a raincrust which apparently formed yesterday during a brief, local temperature spike.  This was covered with a couple of inches of very appealing powder, but the crust extended to high elevations without showing any signs of thinning.

We were therefore pleasantly surprised to find reasonable skiing regardless, with the crust breaking up readily with the application of a modicum of aggression and speed.  We skied the glades down to Iceberg Lake, across to Mazama Lake, then took a peek down through the trees into the Wells Creek drainage.  Although this was somewhat controversial at the time€”there being an obvious disunity between those content to yo-yo tolerable snow and those to whom such tolerable snow suggests a search for the more favorable conditions which can surely be found just around the next corner and over the next rise€”this proved a good idea.   Yesterday's rain had apparently been driven by winds from the south or southwest, and on treed slopes little or none of it reached the ground; possibly it was more of a freezing drizzle.  At any rate, open glades were somewhat crusty, but spaced old-growth was pure, graduated-density powder.  Various complements accrued to the one whose idea it was to ski these particular trees.  These were modestly deflected.  Aw, shucks.

We skied several euphoric shots in 35-40 degree trees and glades before heading back to the saddle in deteriorating visibility at the end of the day.  Actually, one of us skied not quite as much as the others, being for a time busily occupied in a methodical digging-up  of an entire hillside looking for the expensive goggles he had just lost there in a spectacular crash.  Various jokes were made at this person's expense, mainly involving certain medical consequences the last time he came to these mountains in search of a lost piece of equipment just six months ago.  Only when another member of the group chanced to find the lost item quite some distance away on an entirely different slope, did this poor soul rejoin the fun and grins.  

In the course of all this excavation, a rutchblock was dug which yielded a release at 5, 10 inches down on a .75 inch thick layer of graupel.  The slab below this felt quite strong and stable.  Aside from that, the top couple of inches of low-density powder sluffed reliably at about 40 degrees, but this did not threaten.  The raincrust may create some interesting problems once it is covered by the fresh snow which is expected during the next few days.  

Note: my two-wheel-drive van needed chains to get up the Mt. Baker Highway (despite the absence of chain controls), which was icy and not as well sanded as it has been in the past.  Not a big deal for us, but probably less pleasant for those not carrying chains.  

Of particular interest to readers of this board: we were overtaken early in the day by acarey's stepson, who is apparently done breaking trail for folks currently cultivating a lofty disdain for any but the lightest of gear.  Of course, he immediately left us far behind, being indeed vigorous and energetic.  It is unfortunate that in doing so, he missed out on the best of the skiing.  Besides, our group offered some interesting trailbreaking opportunities (most of which I was able to duck unobtrusively).  

Enjoy.

Mark