Jeffrey Knecht from UNITED KINGDOM writes:
Mt. Baker is a little area that rocks! Why? It's the snow! First, this place receives more snow than any other ski resort in the United States - over 600 inches in a typical year. That's more than Alta, Squaw Valley, Mammoth or Jackson Hole. In the 1998-99 season Mt Baker set the WORLD snowfall record - 1,140 inches! I hope you like powder if you visit.
The amount of skiing available is not huge, but it's the quality of the terrain which makes this place great. Open powdery meadows, cliffs, chutes, hidden glades, open cruising terrain, tree-lined runs - all covered with a 100-200 inch base.
Experts: You will be very happy here! Try glades Skier's Right off Chair 6, Chute right under Chair 1 (steep!), and Gabl's area under Chair 4/5. Baker also has a liberal backcountry policy - take responsibilty for yourself - that allows you to leave the ski area boundary and try Shuskan Arm. Respect avalanche warnings - 3 people died last year.
Intermediates: Great area for you too! Cruise the areas between Chair 8 and Chair 4/5 for groomed tree-lined runs, a few open sloped and some easy pitches to learn powder techniques on.
Beginners: Not the best area for beginner skiers. Limited terrain around the base lodges and lots of snow can make it tough for some.
Snowboarders: They love this mountain! Lots of interesting shapes for hits, great powder and a long snowboarding tradition make this a great place for boarders.
Liftlines are never a problem at Baker. Even at peak times they should be under 5 minutes. However, all the lifts are slow doubles or quads.
Tip: The White Salmon base lodge is ALWAYS more crowded than the Heather Meadows lodge so use Heather Meadows when it's open on the weekends.
Overall, Mt. Baker is an incredibly unique place and definitely worth a 2.5 hr drive from Seattle. If the snow does let up when you are there and the sun comes out, the views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuskan are stunning! Some of the best in the state.
2003-09-15 |
