My relationship with Mt Baker started in 2009. I lived in Victoria at those times and most of my travels were complicated by ferry traffic between Island and mainland. It was July 1st, Canada day, and time for some adventure. It was decided to try Mt Baker, most closed volcano to Canada border in Washington state. It is good view on Mt Baker from Vancouver, but you cannot see it from Seattle, so many Canadian hikers true believe that it should be pass to Canada. BC need its own active volcano!
On Tuesday it was the ferry, the border and drive to trail-head.
Most popular rout to Baker is from the north, but the road was washed out, and we decided to hike from the south. It become a tradition for me, and did climb Baker from north only this year. At 11 pm we were on trail-head. Altitude is 1000 meters. Night in the car with wine, wake up at 5 am, and at 6 am we started.
One hour though the forest and you are on the open snow space. Altitude 1300 ΠΌ.
Some hike on the snow and I decided that is time to change ammunition.
Italian shoes, crampons, sunscreen, and I am ready to go.
Our goal:
Forest behind us:
These rocks are last life shelter, from them you step on the glacier.
Altitude is 1800 meter, and above this altitude you can camp anywhere (below only in special places that are limited).
Glacier tongue:
Heather blooming on the rock, bumblebees and flies flying. In the mountains the blooming season is very short.
View behind:
These wavy hard fields are so inconvenient for hike!
Huge crevasses:
Altitude is 2500, but I must to catch last ferry, so it is time to turn back. The summit will be my three weeks later.
On the descent there is a time to come more close to crevasse and look inside.
This one is filled up by snow.
This one is deep, better avoid it.
View on the lake:
Hard wavy field again:
Glacier tongue:
This is not glacier any more, just snow field. It is afternoon, snow melting and becoming heavy and wet.
More flowers:
The next, and this time successful climb on Mt Baker was month later of this one.
