Click to hear me sing
Mt. Baker (3rd trip)
Elevation:
Height Gain:
Location:
 10,433 ft (3180m)
4,498 ft (1371M)
Wapta Icefields
Note for 10 Apr 04: I went with Blair Piggot as a day trip. Picture perfect weather, but unfortunately Peyto Lake was not frozen solid, so we had to contour along the shore. Fortunately, we had near zero ski penetration, so the travel was very fast. Due to Blair not feeling well, we only made it to the col, but we got an awesome run down from Baker col. Click here for a detailed trip report.

Note for 29 Jan 05: I went with Blair Piggot as another day trip. This time the weather wasn't so perfect, and I wasn't feeling great. I found out the next day that I had pneumonia. Due to my pneumonia illness and fever, we got about 100 ft below the col before I had to turn around. Click here for a detailed trip report.

Note for 30 Apr 05: I went with Blair Piggot and Jim Everard as another day trip. This time, neither of us were sick, and the weather was perfect. Great day for a summit, and the ski run back down was once again one of the best runs in the Canadian Rockies. Click here for a detailed trip report.

  Date Ascent Time Descent Time
1st Time 10 Apr 04 incomplete incomplete
2nd Time 29 Jan 05 incomplete incomplete
3rd Time 30 Apr 05 6:15 3:45
This is Mt. Baker, as seen from Mt. Jimmy Simpson the previous day. The route goes up to the col on the right of Baker, then you make your way up the slope and ridge to reach the summit.


Here we are heading across the lake. Much better conditions than the previous time. The ice had some big cracks in it, but it was still solid. We estimated it to be about 8 inches thick. The picture is of me heading out across the lake. If you look closely, you'll see Jim way out on the lake.


At the far end of Peyto Lake, we could see we'd be carrying our skis from that point, until the top of the moraine. Here we see Blair about to head off with skis on his pack.


Jim and I were close behind Blair. You can see I had a slight sunburn from the day before.


Still carrying those skis... and still chasing Blair.


Finally... we made it to the toe of the Peyto Glacier. This is looking up at the two Rhonddas. Our route will head toward North Rhondda (center of picture), then turn right and head toward Baker.


This is Blair and I heading across the glacier toward Baker col. The ski run from Baker col to where we are standing is one of the best in the Rockies.


This is me and Jim arching our way up to the col.


Once at the col, it's nice to look back at what you've done so far. This is looking back down toward the Peyto Glacier. In the background on the right is Mt. Thompson. Following the ridge from Mt. Thompson left, the highpoint is Jimmy Simpson, where we were the previous day.


The col is a nice place to take a break. This is Blair eating his curds and whey. That's Tilly Point behind him.


From the col, you can see the lower half of the slope up Baker. This is only about half of the slope. Remember, the summit is about 1,000 ft above the col.


So, after a quick snack, we took off for the summit. This is of me and Jim slogging up the hill.


Same story as above. Jim and I are just trying to catch up to Blair.


Here is the second half of Mt. Baker's ridge. As you can see, I'm starting to catch up to Blair. "You ain't so fast". :-)


So, he reached the summit first, but here I am, about to top out at the summit.


And looking down past me, Jim was not far behind either.


This is Blair standing at the summit, looking at the Freshfields. The big peak on the left is Des Poilus.


Here we see Jim and myself posing for our summit shots. I'm such a funny guy!!!


Okay... time to go home. This is Jim descending the ridge.


On the lower half of the slope, the terrain opens up more, and you can just randomly plunge-step your way down. Obviously, Blair plunge-stepped a little faster and passed us, but we weren't too far behind. Once at the col, we put on the skis and headed down. The ski descent that followed was the best I'd ever had.