Mount Baker and Highway 542 Ski Tours

Mount. Baker and 542 have some of the biggest easy access mountains in the Cascades, now pair that with the most snowfall in the world and it becomes obvious why the place has become a place of legends. If you tell someone you are from Washington they won’t know where it is but if you say Mt. Baker they seem to know. Here is a list of some of the many trips I’ve been fortunate to experience there

Heliotrope Ridge October Powder on Mount Baker

Looking at Mount Baker and the Heliotrope Ridge
Looking at Mount Baker and the Heliotrope Ridge
A closer look at Heliotrope Ridge

Heliotrope Ridge is the Mount Baker equivalent of the Muir Snowfield on Mount Rainier. There are a few places in Washington where you can hike to to get early season turns. With low elevation glaciers and an easy hike it just takes a little bit of snow to get powder turns. After our first storm of the season it was time to drive north. The plan was to set up camp at the base of Heliotrope Ridge and spend the following day lapping the area. With a phone call from Jason Hummel I was on my way up the Glacier Creek Road. Soon enough I would be getting for first blue sky powder turns of the season.




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Coleman Deming route up Mount Baker

Looking at the Coleman Demming Route on Mount Baker
Looking at the Coleman Demming Route on Mount Baker
Looking up the Coleman Glacier route on Mount Baker

The Coleman Deming is possibly the most popular route to the summit of Mount Baker. Climbing up the Heliotrope Ridge Trail it’s over 7,000 feet and 5.5 miles. Starting on the Coleman Glacier it heads in a southeast direction. Soon enough the final steps are up the Deming Glacier via the Roman Headwall. The route is usually done in two days but is easily possible in a long day. Though it is a non technical route it does pass by crevasses so it does require caution. The first summit of this route and the volcano was done in 1868 by Edmund Thomas Coleman on his third attempt. This days the Coleman Deming Route has become the standard climbing route. It is both popular with skiers and hikers throughout the year.

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