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- Dec 19, 2023
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The 4−1−1 on Baker Backcountry Skiing
Ever wanted to try backcountry skiing but didn’t know where to start? Ever wanted to explore new backcountry ski terrain but didn’t want to waste days stumbling around? Ever wanted to refresh your avalanche education but didn’t want to take a whole new course? Well, join MM ski guide and avalanche instructor as he updates us on his recent ski day with MM clients in the Mt Baker Backcountry and their visit to the White Room.
“The Mt Baker backcountry has been my go-to playground this winter. With its insane amounts of snow, unending terrain, and incredible local ski culture, I find myself heading west on Hwy 542 every chance I get. So, when the MM office called and said we had some folks who wanted a day of guided backcountry skiing in the Baker area; needless to say, I was excited. Jordan and Chelsea are no strangers here at MM. They joined us last season for one of our Stevens Pass AIARE Level 1 courses. This year they were looking to expand their backcountry terrain and refresh a little of their avalanche skills. The Baker backcountry was the perfect place to do both.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=bf85479a1d932470227f65562fd59ebf 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=5e75419b0317f896e67d2e75dbc82a69 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=5e0d539c6154a74b1c0df1d72c14ffea 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=6b9d64729eea10edcf56bb04ea4f8488 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=80cbc6095dd610b23408038fad927242 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=7484a5cb5f6504701b389a59152754e2 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=afe341e06780e05ae996d9464f155917 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic1a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=37cd1fad261f9ab1d4501ec91a4007ae 1024w)
Jordan entering the White Room on Herman Peak’s SE glades. Dallas Glass photo
Two weeks of sunny and warm weather here in the Northwest had left me wondering if we’d be hunting mid-winter corn in a region famous for its record amounts of powder. Well, Baker would not disappoint. On Wednesday before our trip the clear skies turned grey and winter returned! Over 18” of fresh had fallen in the Baker area by Saturday morning and some recent personal ski days told me that our avalanche problem would be localized. This meant game on!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=b8703745e02a45d4efbbcff11d70aa21 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=503abded402c60becf25cf3ff2fdbfe4 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=105fba425444c5de58d001ec4e35cc66 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=e8e1d0242e87ee3cf30a619af652601a 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=5a9af366111ebc85eb96b22560451cab 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=622d1fb1c85d530274144a3a8e93d79c 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=390ddc56ebc5d33658756d2870492410 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic2a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=2f60bbd05d7dcc59522b01505c8ba4d9 1024w)
Let’n the snow fly, Chelsea lays down first tracks on Herman Peak. Dallas Glass photo
As we put climbing skins on in the parking lot at Heather Meadows it was clear that the weather forecast of snow showers would be an understatement. Mother-nature had full on snow in store for us all day. While this would bring us killer powder, it also meant low visibility and that we’d be better off in the trees. After a short warm-up lap to get our skis under us, we headed for the SE glades of Herman Peak. As I watched Jordan ski from my lookout position, he completely disappeared; turn after turn Jordan entered what we like to call the White Room! Powder billowing up and over his shoulders, flowing past his waste; it was deep. Then down came Chelsea with a spectacular telemark performance, arcing graceful turns with streams of snow hanging in the air as she went. As I joined them at the lake below I saw two huge grinning faces. ‘What do ya think? Should we ski it again?’ I asked. ‘Absolutely!’ they replied. So up we went.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=aec9f82a76f1a899a09bf38a026dbbbe 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=51a7cba0eceaae428d3bbd0dea0072a1 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=bb2d5cacc6ada07a0aee16075b84f2f2 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=520e6612e16db0c58fb64af3d47951e8 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=f5505fee58a8a9cf2e658e88f7646d48 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=739afcbca243c2fa7acc9958fd3d1c10 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=4dcf5d17ab183fb3f9ded4c216ec82f3 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=e1abbd974f5282625252c17c253f5cf2 1024w)
Finding the goods in Swift Creek, Jordan coming down toward the meadow. Dallas Glass photo
People were beginning to notice our tracks and smiles on Herman Peak; I guess the cat was out of the bag. Other skiers were heading up to ski in our tracks, so we turned our attention to a new area. After an observational lap in the upper Swift Creek drainage, a local favorite, we moved down canyon to set ourselves up for one last big lap. As I dropped in to scope the line, I couldn’t help but laugh. Yet again we’d grab untracked snow on an amazing line. I tucked into some trees to take pictures of Jordan and Chelsea as they one by one showed me how tele-ers take a beautiful sport and add another twist of art. We gathered in the meadow below with wearied legs and gladdened hearts. One last skin track up, and we’d point our skis toward home.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=2b1f8cb0bc9b7bd4ef768c437b3d8492 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=17ae49652135f7fb2135bc69a567d4ea 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=952e3969e968d5d8b5c20d3e260070e8 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=cf871313abb3302787e18350bcb8fb84 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=56a0ee8a7be92de0b7d6948055494c68 905w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=0a1741f983061e5eab2a76065702e436 905w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=b43de705311ada1ff848d690b46caa14 905w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPic4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b68f3f323fd3e192088f44e4d7e1e738 905w)
Adding a little bit of tele-art, Chelsea puts her knee to the ski. Dallas Glass photo
The snow hadn’t let up all day. Baker had shown us yet again why it is world renowned for its deep snow and spectacular terrain. We may not have been able to see any of the mountains with all the falling snow, but we were able to dig deep into their souls and allow their beauty to flow around our waist and over our head one turn after another.“
~ MM Guide Dallas Glass