The Chute under C-1 at Mt. Baker | Image: Brett Ploss

Report from Saturday, March 2, 2024

Skiing

Mount Baker, Washington, has been on my bucket list for a while. After hearing about the incoming storms this past week through today, I found time to make it. With over 60” of fresh snow in the past week alone, the area looked like a new mountain compared to the low snow winter the PNW has experienced so far.

I drove up Mount Baker highway with aims to get in around 8:30 a.m. No significant traffic.

There are two base areas, White Salmon first or Heather Meadows three miles farther up the road. Based on the trail map proclaiming more danger signs at Heather Meadows base, I headed up there to park.

There was a significant line for Chair 1 from the lot. According to locals, this past week had been crazy with snow and guest visits. Today was one of the busiest days they had seen this season. Although, for those of us used to the larger, more popular resorts, this “crowd” was nothing.

The line may look long, but was unusual for Baker and went by quickly | Image: Brett Ploss

The line stretched to the parking lot, and Mount Baker only had fixed grip lifts. Thanks to staff being efficient and locals being eager to get up the mountain, I made it through in about five minutes. For most resorts, this is short. For Baker, locals were not used to even having a wait.

Once I reached the top, I could tell why they were so eager. Riding up Chair 1, I saw the first riders launching themselves off cliffs in The Chute, a large chute running directly below C-1. A “Hollywood” type of run. People were going big.

It continued to snow hard throughout the day. Flakes were large and coming down without wind leaving light fluffy deep snow.

Large snowflakes coming down at Mt. Baker Ski Area | Image: Brett Ploss

Landings were soft, with 60” in the last week and over a foot overnight. As I explored C-1, I found some wooded areas that had not been touched since the storm started. This was not the typical PNW cement. It was light, fluffy snow you’d expect in the Rockies. The trees were deep with snow up to my waist; my deepest day this season.

C-1 and C-6 are labeled “Experts Only Lift(s)” because they provide access to some serious technical terrain. Both give access to some big mountain skiing unique to Mount Baker. The in-bounds runs are intense. Think of big British Columbia tree-level backcountry lines. Now add strategically positioned lifts, and you have Mount Baker.

I then went to explore the other big lifts, C-5 and C-8. There were more families on this side of the mountain with more intermediate terrain. Despite the labeling, some good steeps were found under both of these lifts.

Mount Baker Ski Area | Image: Brett Ploss

As the snow piled up, the Raven Hut Lodge was the perfect place to stop for a quick snack before returning to the big mountain terrain.

Back on C-1 lapping the mid station, I saw groups of backcountry skiers skinning up off to skiers left of the resort. Definitely on the list to come back and explore this vast terrain with a group.

Getting to the car was simple: skiing off the top of C-1 Blueberry Cat Track to home run and with the new snow all the way to my trunk. Driving out was a great view of multiple people digging their cars and snow equipment out.

After a rough start to the season, we can only hope those shovels never stop moving for the rest of March! With the forecast, I don’t think they will.

Mt. Baker

Mount Baker Ski Area Trail Map | Image: Mount Baker Ski Area website.

Located three hours from Seattle and an hour from Bellingham, Mount Baker Ski Area is nudged against Canada and North Cascades National Park. A unique aspect of the resort is that the entire mountain/lodges are not connected to the electrical grid. That entire area is fully self-sufficient and runs on four diesel generators.

With an average annual snowfall of 666 inches, 1500ft vertical, 1000 acres of terrain, and eight quadchairs, Mount Baker packs a big punch. They hold the world record for snowfall for the 1998-1999 season at 1,140 inches.

Current Conditions

Deep snow at Mt. Baker March 2, 2024 | Image: Brett Ploss

DEEP and great coverage. Snow is soft and fluffy. It did not ski wet, which gives me hope we will not see it ice up. I would expect packed powder/sluff tomorrow, March 3. This coming week is calling for more snow as well.