Mt Baker

Getting there

Start at the Park Butte carpark - get there early if you want to find a car space, very popular in summer.

Route/Trail notes

There are a number of routes to summit Mt Baker but the most popular one for late season is the Easton Glacier route. If broken up into a 2 day expedition the first day would involve a walk from the carpark up to the basecamp on the foot of the glacier - Sandy Camp. This is around a 3hr hike that starts off quite easily then gets gradually steeper the further up you go. If you are not interested in the alpine component just doing this stretch is quite rewarding with phenomenal views as you get closer to the camp. The track is well marked and very popular, most people who you encounter are just day hiking to the camp and back, only a slim percentage of the people who head up there are aiming for the summit.

Awaking early the next day you will commence the 1500m ascent to the summit. Similiarly to the day before it will start off easy going and then gradually and get steeper the further you go. To ascend the glacier you will need crampons and an ice axe and members of your group will have to be roped together due to the ever present danger posed by crevasses. The crevass locations and depth are ever changing so it is important to have a basic knowledge of self arrest or be escorted by someone who does. Eventually you will reach the base of the Roman wall - the steepest section of the climb with a gradient of 40-50 degrees. At the base there is a good viewpoint into the steaming Sherman Crater. The Roman wall is easier than it looks and upon reaching the top of it you have only a short 20-30min walk to the summit. The summit has exceptional 360 degree views that makes all the pain you experienced up to that point worth it.

Permits/Costs

Can be done as part of an expedition/alpine climbing course. Prices for these usually hover around the $1500 AUD mark.

Other References

https://57hours.com/review/mt-baker-climb/

GPS Tracks

No GPS available for this walk yet.

Comments

I booked this trip through Alpine Ascents in order to learn some alpine mountaineering skills before I go diving into crevass fields on my own. I had been told Mt Baker is a great introduction to alpining given the landscape and condition of the glacier. Was interesting stepping over the crevasses and gaining an appreciaton for just how deep they go. Overall I would definitely rate this as a challenging hike, especially if you haven't done much hiking in snow. The first day is pretty cruisey but the 2nd day is reasonably demanding. Was surprised as to how hot it was at Sandy Camp. Even during the night you could walk around in shorts and a T Shirt despite being on a glacier. The summit was cooler but probably only around 5 degrees, certainly looks colder in the photos. Doing it in the heat does bring on other challenges though, the ice becomes less stable and more mushy and crevasses become more of a threat. Didn't have to worry about avalanches on our route but did hear and see some minor avalanches on the more steeper cliffs not far from the camp.
Vonsnrub on 19 Jul, 2024