[MCR] N Cascades; Mt Baker

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Finally, a nice day!  

This morning was looking pretty clear, so a trip to Coleman Glacier on Mt Baker was in order.  The trail had spotty snow to the old Kulshan Cabin site, and solid snow above 4700ft.  The crust was firm and held up into mid morning.  At noon, around 7000ft,  a ski boot would sink in about 30cm.  This made the travelling pretty good as we were on skis anyway,  The skiing was beautiful smooth corn.   The crevasses  looked nicely filled in, the  glide cracks at the toe of the glacier were starting to widen.

A piece of ice fell of the cliffs on the N Face, (around 9300ft),   rumbled down, entraining snow, and creating a dust cloud that rolled over the approach to the N Face.   The debris from the avalanche came very close to the usual approach, and would of smoked anyone taking a "high Line" to the start of the route.   

On the upper reaches of the mountain, a moderate West wind was   observed, blowing spindrift off the ridgelines.   The sky became overcast in early afternoon,  and off to the west the next system was sending mid level clouds onto the coast.

Paul Berntsen,
Mountain Guide.