Mount Rainier to Mount Baker Archives

The Nooksack Traverse over Mt. Shuksan

Looking at Mount Shuksan and Ruth Mountain of the Nooksack Traverse

The Nooksack Traverse is one of those trips you can’t get wrong. With the route being one long exposed avalanche path it must be done in stable conditions. Going from the White Salmon Glacier on Mount Shuksan to Ruth Mountain it’s surrounded in stunning scenery. Out of all the traverses I’ve done in the Cascades this is with direct ascents and fun descents. Though I had planned on doing the Nooksack Traverse for years I had to wait for the right conditions.

It would have to have soft snow yet be stable as the Nooksack Cirque is a long traverse. With that in mind we would also need 2 days of good weather as most of the route is in alpine. Patience was the game for ticking this traverse off but soon enough the stars aligned. It was time to drive up to Mount Baker Ski Resort and do this tour bordering North Cascades National Park.

The Park Glacier Headwall on Mount Baker

The Watson Traverse is a high alpine route from Mount Baker to the the Ski Resort. Starting at Glacier Creek it travels over 17 miles and 10,000 feet before ending at the Heather Meadows Parking lot. The high point of the route is Mount Baker with an ascent of the Coleman Glacier route before descending … Read more

Sauk River to Highway 2 in Glacier Peak Wilderness

Sauk River to Highway 2 was connecting the lines in the Washington Cascades between the 14 Lakes Traverse to the Suiattle Traverse. Starting on the Mountain Loop Highway we would loosely follow the Pacific Crest Trail for 6 days and over 50 miles. After starting on the North Fork of the Sauk River we would head southeast through the Poet Range. Then halfway through the trip we would descend west to the Little Wenatchee River before following the Pacific Crest Trail to Stevens Pass. With the traverses being almost a week long it was all about the right weather window. Fortunately that came in early May and it was time to attempt it.

Riding of the North East Face of Mac Peak

The 14 Lakes Traverse was one of those trips that came together after consistently looking at maps. I needed to link together Hyas Lake to Stevens Pass and kept wondering what would be the best route for a snowboarder. Looking at previous routes that had the trip they had taken a low route following the Pacific Crest Trail. While possible, I found this way to be out of the question. If I was taking the energy I wanted to ride as much as possible. In the end this trip came together with the thought of “well if I want to ride this line I need to go there” mindset. In late March 2016 the weather window finally came together and we were on our way for a 4 day trip in Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Heading from Mount Rainier north with section Links up the Alpine Lakes Traverse and the Poets Traverse

Ski touring from Summit West to Meany Lodge on the Patrol Race

The Patrol Race was one of the original ski tours within Washington State that dates back to the 1930’s. Its history comes from the original ski resort in the Cascades called Meany Lodge and started by the Mountaineers. The route itself starts at Snoqualmie West and follows the forests nearly 20 miles to Meany Lodge. This was the first race of its kind in North America and ran until America’s involvement in WW2. Luckily it was started again in 2014 and I was in one of the groups to keep history alive.

This Trip would connect Crystal Mountain to Stampede Pass to the South and the Alpine Lakes Traverse to the North from Mount Rainier to Mount Baker.

The Nooksack Traverse over Mt. Shuksan

The Watson Traverse from Mt. Baker to the resort

Sauk River to Highway 2 in Glacier Peak Wilderness

Hyas Lake to Stevens Pass the 14 Lakes Traverse

Patrol Race: Snoqualmie to Meany Lodge