March 2, 2008, North Slate Mountain
3/2/08
2227
2
What a great year for low-elevation ski touring. I cant remember the last time there was this much snow in the Nooksack River Valley. With cold temperatures and a moderate amount of new snow, Sunday was a perfect day to hit up some big drops off the Mount Baker Highway.
My buddy Dave and I decided to finally check out the north summit of Slate Mountain, located north of the Mt Baker ski area and just south of the Mt Baker Highway. Leaving the truck by the Nooksack River Bridge we hitched a ride maybe a mile-and-a-half up the highway to an elevation of 2500. We headed up through surprisingly mellow forest and within a 1000 vertical feet we were skinning through a foot of light powder in beautiful open old growth. At 4200 open slopes began and the powder grew to 16-18 of stable fluff.
Our karma was improved by recovering about 100 of brightly flagged banner hanging from a tree. After some confusion we realized it was the line from one of those huge ballons car dealers fly on their lots. Anyway, another 1700 of up and we found ourselves on the summit of Slate Mountain at 5900 just as the clouds broke from Shuksan to Baker.
Shuksan, ski area, South Slate (Herman poking out behind), Baker
Not wanting our skin track to go to waste we skied a delightful 1700 run of open bowls, steep rollers and a final bit of cruising down a wide low-angle avalanche swath.
Now it was time for the main event. Back up the ski track then a complex traverse north out a ridgeline that sits, far, far above the Nooksack River. From an elevation of 5500 its a steep and sustained 3500 drop to the river. If one knows where to look there is an amazing fall line run of couloirs, bowls and chutes that leads all the way to valley bottom.
You can ski the fallline almost all the way to the Nooksack River just visible in the photo
The top 2400 was excellent powder, the lower 1000 was wet but fun and enhanced by huge snow pinwheels of death chasing you down the slope. When the open terrain ended, five minutes of sideslipping over logs and through devils club got us to the Anderson Creek Road maybe a quarter mile from the Mount Baker Highway. Feeling rather smug we skated back to the truck and headed to Glacier for bagels and beer.
At about 4000' in the "Clean Slate" Couloir
Lots of good touring and steep skiing out there. The line described is easily seen form the Mt Baker Highway maybe half a mile west of the Maintenance Sheds. Look for the long, skinny avalanche swath through steep forest.
Tour Directions
My buddy Dave and I decided to finally check out the north summit of Slate Mountain, located north of the Mt Baker ski area and just south of the Mt Baker Highway. Leaving the truck by the Nooksack River Bridge we hitched a ride maybe a mile-and-a-half up the highway to an elevation of 2500. We headed up through surprisingly mellow forest and within a 1000 vertical feet we were skinning through a foot of light powder in beautiful open old growth. At 4200 open slopes began and the powder grew to 16-18 of stable fluff.
Our karma was improved by recovering about 100 of brightly flagged banner hanging from a tree. After some confusion we realized it was the line from one of those huge ballons car dealers fly on their lots. Anyway, another 1700 of up and we found ourselves on the summit of Slate Mountain at 5900 just as the clouds broke from Shuksan to Baker.
Shuksan, ski area, South Slate (Herman poking out behind), Baker
Not wanting our skin track to go to waste we skied a delightful 1700 run of open bowls, steep rollers and a final bit of cruising down a wide low-angle avalanche swath.
Now it was time for the main event. Back up the ski track then a complex traverse north out a ridgeline that sits, far, far above the Nooksack River. From an elevation of 5500 its a steep and sustained 3500 drop to the river. If one knows where to look there is an amazing fall line run of couloirs, bowls and chutes that leads all the way to valley bottom.
You can ski the fallline almost all the way to the Nooksack River just visible in the photo
The top 2400 was excellent powder, the lower 1000 was wet but fun and enhanced by huge snow pinwheels of death chasing you down the slope. When the open terrain ended, five minutes of sideslipping over logs and through devils club got us to the Anderson Creek Road maybe a quarter mile from the Mount Baker Highway. Feeling rather smug we skated back to the truck and headed to Glacier for bagels and beer.
At about 4000' in the "Clean Slate" Couloir
Lots of good touring and steep skiing out there. The line described is easily seen form the Mt Baker Highway maybe half a mile west of the Maintenance Sheds. Look for the long, skinny avalanche swath through steep forest.
Tour Directions
Nice trip!
Taking advantage of the low elevation snowpack--very cool.
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