Coming Soon: Mount Baker

From July 2-4, 2010 we will be climbing Mount Baker for our third time. In preparation for our climb, we will be taking a day trip on June 26th to the base camp to check out the conditions and to practice some of our glacier skills (roping up, crevace rescue, prusuiking, etc.).

We believe this preparation and training to be particularly important especially since we will be hiking with friends who have never before participated in this type of mountaineering 'expedition'.

For our actual climb, we will be following the Heliotrope Ridge Trail and the Coleman Glacier Route. It is the most popular route on Mt. Baker and it starts in old growth forest and climbs its way through flower filled avalanche chutes, over rocky moraines to near the edge of the Coleman Glacier. As the trail gains elevation the dense forest begins to thin and just before the trees peter out all together, the trail comes to the former site of Kulshan Cabin. Approximately two and a quarter miles from the trailhead the path forks. The right fork leads to the Coleman Glacier climbing route. From this point the climbing route traverses the Coleman Glacier to the summit at Grant's Peak. The best conditions are from June to August.

Our campsite is located on the Hogsback [6,000 feet] just below Coleman Glacier.

Here is our basic schedule for the trip:

Stay tuned for more details and photos to come!