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May, 2025

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Mt. Baker questions

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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Im thinking about a trip to baker and stevens pass this winter. I have a few questions. I get out west about once a year, not really much back country experience at all. If i go to baker mid February, how is the snow? will i need avy gear/training? Im from michigan and im looking for somewhere cheap and not crowded and like big mtn. what about accommodations around baker? Were deciding between this and Big sky. Im open to other areas if you guys know of any.

++++++K for help.
14 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
Baker blows in February, same with most of the PNW. Best accommodations are in Bellingham, about an hour or two away from the hill. If you want a ski-in ski-out resort thats good that time of year, go to Canada, Colorado or Utah.
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
thats what i was thinking. when is bakers snow best?
14 years ago
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Gknow
Posts: 627 - Karma: 358
Right now, check the weather report
14 years ago
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,156
It will rain heavily every single day. Don't go there.
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
damn. okay. if i were to go is avy gear a smart idea?
14 years ago
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
Just gonna leave this here...http://skiwhitefish.com/
14 years ago
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
Longest lift lines on a pow sunny weekend are 10 minutes. Got some good all mountain and pow along with a decent park.
14 years ago
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
hahahaha
14 years ago
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
just go to a bigger resort like whistler or big sky, youll have more fun.
14 years ago
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Gknow
Posts: 627 - Karma: 358
Is having bindings adjusted to your boot a smart idea? depends on how much you want to expose yourself to harm's way
14 years ago
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powderhound100
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 144
avi gear is good in colorado and utah. backcountry is pointless 90% of the time in WA as it always rains.
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
Big Sky will be so much fucking fun.
14 years ago
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MADr.
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 27
baker would be a huge risk to just come visit for a week, not to mention you would be driving 30minutes each way from glacier every single day if you even manage to find a place to stay in glacier. that adds up after a week.

it will rain, go to utah, they have better snow.
14 years ago
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snocompton
Posts: 2026 - Karma: 348
dont even think of ducking a rope at baker w/ out avy gear.  youll get sniped by ski patrol in 2 seconds.  youd be dumb to even think about exploring w/ out avy gear in the pnw. 
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
This. Please don't ever think of ducking ropes without gear and other people. It's absolutely STUPID up here.
14 years ago
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
all the locals like to troll people into thinking it only rains up there.

the fact of the matter is it rains snow and lots of it and they dont want to share. shit is fuckin wet.
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
i wasnt planning on going into the BC. i was wondering if i need it for in bounds, it semms like a sketchy place, i wasnt sure if the ski patrol was on top of things for this "3ft of snow" they get every day.

^ and haha yeah i figured that out thanks man
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
i wear my gear most of the time inbounds. ive had friends get buried in the ski area. its a good idea.
14 years ago
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array.
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 202
baker blows, along with the rest of the mountains around the PNW.
14 years ago
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TheDude
Posts: 2058 - Karma: 117
god damn so much rain opening weekend. i saw at least 70% poncho steeze at crystal. got myself a snazzy core shot too, thanks PNW for washing all the cover awayClick for larger image
14 years ago
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KungPowPow
Posts: 90 - Karma: 26
Baker's dumping right now. Don't bother coming all the way out here for Stevens. If you're going west coast, head to the Tahoe area. Kirkwood and Mammoth blow the PNW out of the water.
14 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
honestly, you dont wanna go to baker. if you do come, hope you have 300K outerwear its so damn wet
14 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
you do realize that the west coast has a WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY more stable snowpack than anywhere east of here right?

I think what you meant to say was "its a stupid idea to duck a rope out west with out knowledge, partner, gear, in that order"
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
............. doesnt make it any more safe to duck ropes when you shouldnt. and baker is in an extremely volatile enviornment.

and no, not in that order. all three, or no go.
14 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
There are bears, too.
14 years ago
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POWDER.RANGER
Posts: 1698 - Karma: -24
just come up to whistler, something is always good in whistler
14 years ago
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
washington may have a more stable snowpack, but because of the amount of rain-soaked snow (mostly rain) yields some very violent avalanches. The worst avalanche tragedy in the United States, ever, happened a few miles from Stevens Pass in Washington.


But, this is all a moot point: it is raining cats and dogs.
14 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
grammar isnt your strong suit is it? In your first post, you had implied that Mt Baker was especially dangerous compared other places. I was just pointing out that it in fact it actually has a much more stable snowpack than the vast majority of mountainous regions in N. America.


Oh, and I didnt list those 3 things in the correct order of importance? oh, i did? well shoot.

14 years ago
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KitAkira
Posts: 12 - Karma: 17
Summit West kicks Baker's ass. Neck deep pow all day every day
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
Lolololololol you dont know what you're talking about. What the fuck do you think happens when we get rain, blower, rain, freeze, rain, 34 degree concrete, rain, blower, sleet, blower and some more concrete on top? Oh yeah, that's reaaaaaaaaaaaaaal stable conditions there bud. 18 foot crowns dont happen in stable conditions.

Come to Baker if you want. I dont five a fuuuuuuuuhuhuhuhuck. But you can never guarantee that you'll be here when it's good, and it's more than likely to rain once while you are. And if you want to have a shit ton of fun, come with backcountry gear and friends.
14 years ago
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irishpandah
Posts: 23 - Karma: 11
everyone from the NNW in this thread cracks me up. stay away! weather, snow, mountain blows. On that note the same goes for tahoe tho brah. your best bet is to just stay home
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
Hey man. Baker fucking sucks.
14 years ago
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,156
This. The crowns in the pictures in the recent Powder mag feature should tell you all you need to know. We get monstrous avies out here.
14 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
AND THERE ARE BEARS!!!!!
14 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
so you are saying that baker is extremely unstable compared to the rest of the Mountains in N. America?

14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
THERE ARE BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
but bears are just tryna make sure you keep your camp fire under control. How can you hate a cuddly wuddly bear wearing a ranger hat???????


Thats just gonna make more people want to come up to baker!
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
ferocious goliath bears. they like out of town blood. and the rain. which is why we have so many of them.
14 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
They killed a child yesterday and buried it's remains in 7 trees
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
YOU WERENT SUPPOSED TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT THAT. NOW THE WHOLE INTERNET KNOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
HOW DO I UNPOST???!??!?
14 years ago
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KungPowPow
Posts: 90 - Karma: 26
lol
14 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
Ya, but exploring with out avy gear is a bit smarter then exploring with avy gear and having no idea how to use it, and more importantly any idea how to avoid using it...



The funny thing about this thread is that it DID rain at Mt. Baker Ski Area today. Sure it snowed at Mt Baker its self, but that ain't where the ski area is.


Seriously though, Mt. Baker, or any area in WA for that matter, really are not good 'destination' ski areas. For the most part there is a significant lack of lodging with in 30 minutes of the areas. If you look hard, you can find good lodging for not much more at Whistler or other 'destination' resort, that will be within 10 min of skiing. (not parking). The other part is that the PNW is very hit or miss, even in the snow heavy months (which February ain't, it is usually our lowest). For example, skiing today, and skiing yesterday were very different. The weather changes quickly here, and often not according to plan. You can start the day at 20 F and sun shine, and by noon be soaking wet at 33 F and pissing rain. You just roll with it. Really, if you want the good snow that we get, you have to hang out here, and be ready to go at a day or less notice when it hits. The forecast for today (11/22) changed 2-3 times a day over the last three days.

Also, there really isn't that much to set our Mts apart when there is no new snow. The parks are all right, but nothing great. They don't compare with Tahoe, Whistler, CO, UT, etc...

I literally laugh every time I see these threads.
14 years ago
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
It's sad with people acting like douches to try to get people to stay away from their home mountains. You're acting like children, and you're fucking embarrassing.
14 years ago
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
thanks a ton man for the serious response. +K . i might just go to montana as it seems like a more garunteed good ski trip
14 years ago
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Mama.
Posts: 3066 - Karma: 2,607
no you!
14 years ago
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
Kirkwood sucks. Really dry year last year. Supposed to be the same. I wouldn't bother coming to Tahoe unless you're going to northstar as they have the steepest gnarliest terrain.
14 years ago
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 49
HAHHAHAHAHA dude it rains tough all season. I don't even know what snow is i've never seen it in the PNW don't come here. But in all seriousness Baker sucks, you never know when it's going to be a good day
14 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
Not WA mountains. Locals keep these places running. Seriously, why else would Mt. Baker ski area have one of the lowest lift ticket prices and one of the higher season pass prices?

I hold most NS'ers below Texans in jeans. At-least the Texan in Jeans isn't a professional fashion slut.
14 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
It don't exactly make it a great place to plan a trip to. Also the lack of close lodging (like I said earlier) and its a pretty shitty place to ski with out any new snow (my opinion)
14 years ago
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