Ski Summit of Mount Baker
Ski Summit of Mount Baker
Mount Baker is a perfect big mountain ski adventure for the aspiring ski mountaineers. Photo: Mark Allen
overview
The Ski Summit of Mount Baker program is designed for experienced and fit backcountry skiers and snowboarders who are ready to ski and ride the volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest. This program lightly touches on the skills needed to enter the world of ski mountaineering while focusing on skiing one of the iconic mountains of the Cascade Range.
Details
Location: Mount Baker
Ratio: 3:1 climber to guide (max. 6 participants)
Length: 2.5 days
Cost: $850.00 per person
Dates: May 3-5, 2024
May 17-19, 2024
Custom dates are also available - Contact Us
Itinerary
Day 1 - Participants will meet their guides in the late afternoon at a campground near the trailhead. Here we will perform a gear check and go over the plan for the next couple of days.
Day 2 - After traveling to the Mount Baker trailhead. We will will approach our objective via the Nouth side of Mount Baker. Once our winter high camp is established, instructors will introduce rope-work fundamentals for ski mountaineering as well as the skills and equipment needed to ascend glaciated slopes on touring equipment.
Day 3 - Summit Day! Pre-dawn alpine start from High Camp ascending the glaciers to the summit with light summit packs. The team will return to camp, pack up, followed by a full decent to the trailhead.
Includes
All breakfasts and dinners on the mountain
All group camping equipment (Tents, Stoves, Fuel)
All group climbing equipment
Guide guaranteed to be working with in their Scope of Practice
Emergency communication
Excludes
Personal climbing equipment
Personal clothing and camping equipment
Transceivers, shovels, probes
Touring equipment
Dinner on Day 1 and Breakfast on Day 2
Lunches and snacks
Transportation to and from the meeting location
PREREQUISITE EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS
Participants should be able to comfortably link turns and enjoy black diamond to double-black runs in various conditions including heavy powder, icy slopes, and wind crusts. Skiers and riders should be comfortable spending all day outdoors engaged in moderate to intensive cardiovascular activity including 3,500-5,000 vertical feet of ascent in a day at elevation.
Ability to carrying and ski with a heavy pack (35-to-45 lbs)
Participants will be traveling in avalanche terrain and must have taken an AIARE Rescue Course or have equivalent formal training with avalanche equipment (transceivers, probes, shovels) and its use.
The Mountain Bureau suggests that participants have a minimum of 10 backcountry tours with significant elevation gain as well as winter camping experience prior to participating in this trip.
Activity Resources
Breaking into the high glacial alpine on ski mountaineering summit of the Mount Baker-Komo Kulshan - Mark Allen
Mount Baker Facts
Mount Baker, known to the Salish people as “Kulshan”, is the highest peak in the North Cascades and the 3rd highest summit in the state of Washington. It sustains more than 100 square kilometers of glaciers and permanent snow fields. When weather and glacial conditions are right, the ascents can be an extremely rewarding challenge and non-technical. However, this venue makes its own weather providing a perfect template for building lasting skills. This mountain is great for the experienced backcountry skier looking to expand their experience to big mountains.
Mount Baker (Kulshan) showing both North & South side glacier mountaineering routes and the profile of the steep North Ridge Photo: John Scurlock
High Camp and preparation for the summit bid during a ski mountaineering summit of Mount Baker
All scheduled programs can also be booked with custom dates and itineraries. Please see our Custom Guiding pages for more information or Contact Us for a custom program.
All programs are subject to the Mountain Bureau LLC Terms & Conditions