July 15, 2006, coleman pinnacle, mt baker

We headed up to Mt Baker area Sat in search of better coverage from what we have been finding around Rainier the last couple weeks. Not having made the trip to the Baker area yet this year, we thought it was about time. We arrived at the gate at the upper parking lot late at around 10:30 with cool temps, partial clearing, and views up towards Table Mt revealing better coverage than our June 19 trip a year ago. We hiked up towards Artist Pt following the road, which is bare pavement up to the beginning of the long switchback. From there the crews are still working to clear the snow and have dug a path through the snow. I€™ll bet it€™ll be a couple weeks before the road to Artist Pt is clear.

Part way along the trail traversing Table Mt we put on skis and dropped into the basin and, except for one small section, had continuous snow until Coleman Pinnacle. Waxless skis were working well and no climbing skins were required. Snow was badly suncupped and runnelled in places, but overall the bumps were very manageable. The cool temps kept the sticky factor to zero and provided excellent skiing.

We saw only 3 hikers and 1 other skier out there. Where was everybody?  We stopped and chatted with the skier, who turns out we met last year on our trip to the area. Name was Steve who had Charles with him that day a year ago. Just after the ski from the ridge west of the Pinnacle the skies cleared and offered excellent views of Baker. I€™m not sure what it is, but my pictures from this area always seem to turn out well. Must be the lighting.  We skied the snow into the basin below Table Mt, knowing that there was a remaining snow strip that we could boot up to the trail, and knowing that Steve would have already kicked up some steps. Can you believe that guy kept his skis on and did little switchbacks up to the trail? I skied the chute just below Artist Pt down towards Bagley Lake, while Brenda chose to walk the road. Probably a good choice, since it was pretty bumpy at the top steeper section. I think it was close to 7:00 when we got to the car.

I think this may be our last trip of the year, and now we might actually get serious about painting the house. You may see us at the Slush Fest however. It€™s been a good year.