Entries from North Cascades
We had a full value experience on Mt. Baker this weekend. With positive enthusiasm, 12 women met early in the morning in Sedro-Wolley with coffee and gear to hit the trail. We carpooled up to the Park Butte Trail Head on the Easton Glacier of Baker and started up the trail. The heavy packs didn't phase anyone and soon the trail conversations were running full speed ahead. After a five-hour hike into Sandy Camp at the toe of the glacier we set up camp in the rain. On the flanks of Mount Baker without any view of anything more than six feet away we had a nice dinner and early to bed to stay dry. Unfortunately, we woke to the pitter-patter of rain in the morning but managed a nice cup of coffee and some training in the rain on the snow slopes around us. Sunday morning was our anticipated summit bid but the mountain had other plans for our team. With a deluge of rain and strong winds, we decided the summit wasn't in the cards for us this time. We had the opportunity to be in a storm! Nothing beats this group of climbers. Even after naming the lakes forming in the bottom of the tents, everyone kept smiling. Never a complaint about the sopping wet boots just a choice to put our feet in plastic bags then in our boots. To the best storm fairing team ever, your guides Jessie, Lydia, and Christina thank you for making the trip a great experience.
RMI Guide Christina Dale
Posted by: Kel Rossiter, Ben Markhart
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,781'
RMI Guide Kel Rossiter and team just called from the summit of Mt. Baker after a successful climb. They reported good weather and softening snow conditions. After a celebration on the summit, the team will begin their over 5,000' of vertical ski descent off the top. Once back in camp, the team will rest, pack, and hike off of the mountain for a well deserved meal in town.
RMI Guide Kel Rossiter calls in after the team wraps up their Mt. Baker Summit and Ski Descent
Posted by: Kel Rossiter, Ben Markhart
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 6,800'
Hello, this is day 2 of the Mount Baker Climb & Ski program. Today was an excellent training day. We woke up with a sunrise, had some breakfast, and got out on the glacier for some firm snow ski, uphill travel techniques: ski cramponing, boot cramponing, roped travel, and a variety of other skills. Then we ripped skins and had a delightful 1,300-foot descent back to camp. In the afternoon we covered avalanche rescue techniques and crevasse rescue techniques as well. We rolled into dinner, cooked up some great food, put the finishing touches on our packs and getting set for a successful summit bid on Baker tomorrow or tomorrow morning. Bye. Bye.
RMI Guide Kel Rossiter
RMI Guide Kel Rossiter checks in from Mt. Baker.
Posted by: Chase Nelson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
The Mt. Shuksan Seminar, led by Chase Nelson, checked in last night and let us know that they made their summit attempt today. The team reached the base of the pyramid and conditions were too icy to continue so they turned back. However, they are excited about what they did accomplish and they will make their way off the mountain today.
RMI Guide Chase Nelson
Posted by: Chase Nelson, JM Gorum, Chris Ebeling
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
This is Chase and team checking in from the Sulphide Glacier! After three days of almost constant snowfall we finally enjoyed a bit of a break in the weather and even had a few hours of sun. About a foot of snow has fallen since our arrival but the training has continued as planned. Tomorrow we're going to venture higher up towards the pyramid and see if conditions are suitable for a summit attempt. We'll check in tomorrow afternoon!
RMI Guide Chase Nelson
Our Mt. Shuksan team checked in with us last night. They were at camp eating dinner and all is well. The team will train today and start their alpine start to the summit in the early morning.
Here are some photos of the view from their camp.
RMI Guide Steve Gately
The Mt. Shuksan Seminar, led by RMI Guide Geoff Schellens, reached the summit today. The wildfire smoke obstructed some of the views but the team had a great time on a spectacular route! Some photos from the team above.
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Shuksan led by RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall reached the summit of Mt. Shuksan this morning. Solveig reported warm, windy, clear, and smoky conditions from the summit. The team will descend back to camp for their remaining nights on the mountain.
Congratulations to the Expedition Skills Seminar - Shuksan team!
Hello, this is Eric Frank and team up on the North Side of Mt. Shuksan. I just wanted to send a quick note and let everyone know that we reached the summit this morning. It was a textbook climb in perfect weather conditions.
We intend to descend to Lake Anne later this afternoon, and work our way out to the trailhead in the morning.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Great five days in the North Cascades with two studs; Taylor and Jake came from Minnesota ready to tackle two significant objectives. Shuksan and Mt. Baker. Weather cooperated, and we did the first one from Lake Ann to Lake Ann in a stylish way. The next day, hiked out in the morning to find ourselves hiking into Baker that afternoon. Bed right away, and back at it in the early morning. The North Ridge of Baker is in usual late season conditions, and rotten ice plus intricate navigation, demanded focus and perseverance. Accomplished but tired, we hiked out yesterday as the sun still shined over the Cascades.
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
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Congratulations Whynde. You are the most impressive person in every way!.
Posted by: Asbjorn Finsnes on 8/31/2017 at 8:48 am
CONGRATULATIONS on another monumental achievement. There’s nothing you can’t do once you set your mind to it.
Posted by: Geri Kuehn on 8/31/2017 at 8:15 am
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