Mt Baker in 2020

Get Some: Climb Mt Baker via the Easton Glacier with Redline Guiding

Many of our guests have learned glacier and mountaineering skills with us over the years, but aside from leading them on non-technical hiking and semi-technical mountaineering routes on Mt Washington, the Northern Presidentials, Kahtadin, and other similar locations, we haven’t as of yet offered an outlet to put those skills to further use here or outside the region. Until now, that is. Today, with operating plan and guiding permit in hand, we’re pleased to announce… Two, 3-day, 2-night mountaineering trips with the intention of summiting the 10,781’/3286m Mount Baker in June, 2020.

For those not in the know, Wikipedia offers this description of the mountain:

Mount Baker, also known as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan, is a 10,781 ft active glaciated andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the North Cascades of Washington in the United States. Mount Baker has the second-most thermally active crater in the Cascade Range after Mount Saint Helens. About 30 miles/48 km due east of the city of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Mount Baker is the youngest volcano in the Mount Baker volcanic field. […] 
 
Mt. Baker is the third-highest mountain in Washington and the fifth-highest in the Cascade Range, if Little Tahoma Peak, a subpeak of Mount Rainier, and Shastina, a subpeak of Mount Shasta, are not counted. Located in the Mount Baker Wilderness, it is visible from much of Greater Victoria, Nanaimo, and Greater Vancouver in British Columbia, and to the south, from Seattle (and on clear days Tacoma) in Washington. —Wikipedia (click for more details).

 
Sounds cool, right? If you’ve sit upright, nodding yes, and your heart has stepped up a beat or two, you’ll probably want some more details right now, so here goes. A little FAQ:

A Few FAQs: Here are some things you’ll want to know…

When are the 2020 trips?

The first trip will be June 8-10. The second trip will be June 12-14.

By what route will we hike/climb?

In both cases we will be making our summit attempt via the Easton Glacier Route (south side). This is the safest route at the time of year we will be making our attempt.

How much will it cost?

We are charging $995 per guest and will require a minimum of three (and up to eight) guests per trip. Due to certain guide expenses like travel and lodging, we will be asking for a 75% deposit as soon as minimum numbers are met. Please note that final pricing may be affected by the addition of rental gear, optional gear insurance, plus meals if wanted. Please see what’s included/not-included further below.

How challenging will it be?

Due to the altitude, effort from exercise and pack weight plus elevation gain, and potential for a blazing hot June sun, this can be a difficult, demanding trip. Guests will need to have a fair level of fitness and some conditioning. Pack weights will be upward of 50 pounds/23kg for each person (guides even more) — though pack weights will be half that when leaving High Camp for the summit. The total mileage is minimal at 6.6 miles/11km and spread out over the three days, but there is still approximately 7500’/2286m of elevation gain.

What kind of gear will be needed?

The list is as described in a few places. Our mountaineering page. Then on our Resources and Ready Pack pages (sidebar), and also on this Clothing and Gear PDF. In a nutshell, however, guests will need gear for hiking on snow with huge temperature swings between night and day, personal protective equipment like climbing helmet, harness, ice axe, crampons, and gear for backpacking. Specifics will be addressed by your guide after booking. All gear may be rented from us prior to the trip, transported for you, and picked up at the trailhead, and some group gear such as the glacier bling, pickets, ropes, and mountaineering tents are included.

Will special training be needed?

Yes. As a minimum, we will require our guests take our full Mountaineering Skills, and two day Glacier Skills courses (charged separately), or prove they already have these skills. These skills will be reviewed and refreshed on-mountain prior to the climb on day two at no extra charge, but these will be refresher-level sessions only.

So, what exactly is included?

Basically leadership, navigation, experience, judgement, and safety. Guides will also provide on-mountain refresher-level training, camp establishment, water-making, water boiling for food prep. Also included is group gear like pickets, ropes, etc., and tents. Lastly, all permits and operations insurance is included.

And what’s not included?

Other gear and clothing, optional gear insurance, gratuities, your travel expenses such as airline and rental car, lodging, and meals both off- and on-mountain. The latter — all the on-mountain meals — are available for purchase from us at an additional cost.

What’s the basic itinerary?

For the Easton Glacier Route we will drive to the southside Schriebers Meadow trailhead (3400’/1036m) where the trip will begin. This takes approximately one hour from Sedro Woolly, where we’ll meet and go over gear. The hike to high camp takes 4 to 5 hours. The team will set camp between 5,600-6,200’/1707-1890m depending on the season’s snow levels and start the included refresher training on day two. The summit day begins early with a pre-dawn alpine start. From high camp, the team will hike moderate snowfields to the saddle between Sherman Crater at 9600’/2927m and Colfax Peak at 9000’/2743m, depending on the route the guides choose. From there, both routes ascend the steep terrain of the Roman Wall in a final one- to two-hour attempt to climb to Mount Baker’s expansive summit plateau. Return trip included at no extra charge and happens after photos, fist bumps, and some quality time at the summit (if natures says it’s okay to linger).

Don’t Wait: Get in on this trip — Book Now

To make this happen for you, please reach out to us, or simply fill out our booking form to get the party started. Select “Mountaineering” and refer to “Mt Baker” on our booking form. Select the applicable date range.