Mt Baker area ice conditions?

[islandclimber]

Anyone know if Pan Dome or Table Mtn. (Death Picnic, etc.) have formed up yet? Or anything else near Baker? Thanks.

[layton]

colfax mtn has ice on it now according to Berdinka. I'd be there this weekend if the weather would be so kind (which it doesn't look like).

Careful with avy if you go scouting by the way. I really doubt Death Picnic formed.

Go check around some higher elevation valleys around Ruth, Goat, or Shucksun Arm. At the least you'll get some skiing in.

You can probably do some mixed routes next to Pan Dome (mixed rock and powder), and Baker Crags is fun to go to in full conditions.

[islandclimber]

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the seracs will still be in condition to climb at Baker or will the avalanche danger be to bad? Is there any good alpine ice around Baker right now do you think? Thanks again.

[layton]

nothing is steep enough on baker for alpine ice, but there is water ice on Colfax Pk like i said. There is one thing, but darin won't let me spill the beans. If you're thinkin Coleman headwall, then it's probably too powdery and fluffy. There shouldn't be any avy worry to go seracing, just look out for hidden slots. Good stuff above Mirkwood.

 

There are some ice flows on the slabs aroudn the hogsback that can be fun this time of year, but i bet they are covered.

 

Another good idea that is conditions indedpendent is the Twin Sisters, especially the West ridge of the north twin. A GREAT winter climb, and can be climbed rain, shine, night, snow, storm, whenever. It's not steep, but it's fun.

In fact there is huge potential during cold snap storms in the Green Creek valley in the sisters that just recently was re-explored this summer.

[islandclimber]

Cool. Thank you.

[JoshK]

Mike, what is Mirkwood?

[layton]

Mirkwood is the wooded lateral moraine area on the coleman/deming trail on the north side with the big boulder.

[jordop]

Jesus Christ there is probably like 3 metres of new snow right now on Baker. If you do not understand this "ski" thing and want to swing your tools right now I think you could expect:

1. A slog something like "Alive" or maybe one of the Crusades

2. Excavating 3m of fluff to find ice

3. A quiet asphixiating death

 

[Dru]

Mmm wet and isothermal today I betcha cause it just hit +13c in Abbotsford.