Mount Baker Ski Descent

A descent of Mount Baker includes terrain up to 40 degrees in steepness, sometimes in less than ideal snow conditions. You will also be skiing through glaciated terrain with open crevasses – thus you need to be able to ski in control at all times in all snow conditions.

The better your skiing or riding skills the more you will get out of ski mountaineering. You are not required to be a high level expert – but you should regularly ski terrain much more challenging than the groomed blue square or black diamond runs in a maintained ski area.

In addition to very good downhill skills, it is required that you have prior backcountry skiing or ski mountaineering experience. It is likely that if you need to rent touring gear for this program you should spend more time in the backcountry before attempting a ski descent of Mount Baker or any other glaciated peak.

Splitboards have been used in some of the toughest descents in the world and are regularly used for snowboard descents of Mount Baker. It is required that you have prior splitboarding experience. It is likely that if you need to rent a splitboard for this program you should spend more time in the backcountry before attempting a splitboard descent of Mount Baker or any other glaciated peak.

Snow conditions encountered on Mount Baker can range from perfect corn skiing to difficult crust and everything in between. Sometimes we even get spring powder turns. We do not expect skiers to link perfect turns in sun crust or other difficult snow conditions. We do expect you have the downhill movement skills to competently navigate challenging snow conditions with the direction of the guide.

Yes, you are required to bring both ski and boot crampons. Boot crampons are often needed for terrain that is too steep for us to ascend on skis and skins. Ski crampons are commonly used on glaciers so we can stay in our skis for uphill travel and not resort to walking on foot when the snow surface is firm and slick. Though ski crampons are not commonly used in many parts of North America during the winter ski touring season, they are a standard piece of equipment in the Cascades for spring ski mountaineering descents.

Yes, a simple ski mountaineering harness is required for this program and will be worn at all times on the glacier – even when we are not roped up. Bulky, padded rock climbing harnesses are not adequate for this program.

Though making a single turn on a glacier is pretty much like making a single turn anywhere else, we operate with a much higher state of awareness with glaciated skiing. Skiing into partially hidden and even open and obvious crevasses is a very real risk we mitigate with careful routefinding and a stricter travel plan than in normal backcountry skiing.

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• From Interstate 5, take the Mercer Street Exit and follow the signs to Seattle Center/Space Needle. (A quick right turn onto Fairview Ave., and a quick left turn onto Valley St., which becomes Broad Street.)
• After you pass the Space Needle on your right, make a right turn onto Denny Way.
• Proceed to 1st Ave. North and turn right.
• Proceed to Mercer Street and turn right.
• We are located at 109 West Mercer Street, directly across the street from Bank of America and Next Door to Ozzie’s Tavern.
  Street parking is limited to 2-hour zones and parking meters, though there are several pay lots near our offices.

Guides are permitted to accept and greatly appreciate tips. Your guide team is composed of four guides. They will pool all tips received. An average tip for the full guide team is $100-$150.

Please be aware that we are unable to process tips by card. You are welcome to tip your guides with cash or via mobile payment such as Venmo or PayPal.