Mt. Baker after 6 days of training/climbing?

[Kschultz17]

Hey All,

I will be doing a 6 day intermediate alpine climbing course with AAI later this August. It runs Sunday - Friday and the 3 primary objectives include South Early Winter Spire (early in week), Liberty Bell (early in week) and Shuksan (on Friday/end of week). Since I will be in the area and it is labor day weekend I am thinking of adding on Mt. Baker (or another nearby glaciated peak). Essentially I would finish the course on Friday (summit day for Shuksan), rest all day Saturday, start Baker on Sunday & summit on Monday. I would plan to do this with a guide.

Too much in a short period of time?

I am in good shape and will have completed a significant number of training through guides, courses, and various schools by this date but Shuksan will be my first experience on a glaciated peak.

[spiderman]

If you are actually in good shape, and gain some more conditioning in the six days of training, Baker is a day hike. It is very straightforward with the "trail" never getting very steep on the standard routes. If you have three days, are in good shape, and can pack fairly light, Mt. Olympus is a far more thrilling climb IMHO. Alternatively consider Rainier if you want something more moderate.

Squeeze as much as you can into the trip because you will never get the summer of 2018 back again!

[seano]

Baker is definitely closer to "too little" than "too much," and kind of a slog. Like spiderman says, you could do Olympus as a 3-day if you're comfortable on significant glaciers, but it sounds like you might not be. Instead, head down to the Cascade River Road and knock out some dayhikes (Triad, Sahale, Eldorado, Forbidden, ...) Or do some of the classic west-side peaks: Sloan, Whitehorse, White Chuck, ...

[Wildernessjane]

You might want to consider the North Ridge route on Baker to make things a little more interesting. It's a really aesthetic route. Not what I would call a slog at all. We did Rainier, Adams and Baker all in about a week so it's definitely doable.

[Scott P]

Monday. I would plan to do this with a guide.

Too much in a short period of time?

With a guide, it would be no problem.

As long as you learn from the class, it shouldnt be a problem with an equally or more experienced partner either, conditions permitting.

Also, September can be icy, so keep an eye on conditions.

[AlexeyD]

Well, in terms of technical difficulty, Shuksan is going to be much harder than Baker (I'm assuming you're taking about either the Coleman-Deming or Easton routes), but it's true that the routes on Baker are pretty long with a lot of gain. That said, I concur with everyone else that it shouldn't be an issue, especially if you have a full rest day built in.

On a separate and more subjective note, I feel like I have to defend Baker's reputation as being a "slog" here a little, as it's one of my favorite mountains. Yes, the standard routes are walk-ups (though the Roman Wall is steep enough that you probably don't want to fall on it), but "slog" also implies boring and monotonous, and the Coleman-Deming route, at least, is anything but; on the contrary, the scenery is spectacular along the whole route, and the route is somewhat circuitous and complex, which means the scenery changes frequently. Here's a little preview:

https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5B09DC74

[Scott P]

the Coleman-Deming route, at least, is anything but; on the contrary, the scenery is spectacular along the whole route, and the route is somewhat circuitous and complex, which means the scenery changes frequently.

I agree with this. The route isn't very technical, but it is very scenic and beautiful.

[Kschultz17]

Awesome, thanks all! Super helpful.

Think I will go ahead and make the most of out of the weekend and plan to do Baker (Amazing picture AlexeyD). We have a Rainier trip planned for 2019 so will have to see if we can't add on another to that trip as well.

[Monster5]

I thought Coleman Deming was awesome. Lower part anyway as we branched off. The approach trail was steep but cruiser and quite scenic. If you're in shape enough to lug a pack up the approach, summit day shouldn't be too bad.

[XterraRob]

I thought Coleman Deming was awesome. Lower part anyway as we branched off. The approach trail was steep but cruiser and quite scenic. If you're in shape enough to lug a pack up the approach, summit day shouldn't be too bad.

+1 - Mt. Baker is amazing. A guide and I went up the North Ridge and came down the CD. The views during the ascent and descent were really fulfilling and I wish I could have stayed longer. I think it was that volcano that made me lose my motivation for anything in Colorado lol.

[lazy climber]

Well after 6 days of climbing you will be either worn out or ready to hit another hill. I love Baker, no matter what route it is a great climb, all the way from a "slog" to very entertaining. However this will be later in the season. We are having a fairly good snow pack season but depending on how the summer goes routes could be fairly convoluted. Baker has a lot of cracks and as the season progresses they can open up big time.

The routes on the south side can be done in a long day while the north side routes are bit more involved they still can be done in a long day. I assume you are doing the Sulfide Glacier route on Shuksan and if so that puts you on the same side of the range as the south side Baker climbs, actually the same road to a point. Any north side climbs you have to go way around a couple hours to get to.

Glacier Peak would be another good one, you can now get into the trailhead easier than in the past so it is a 2 day climb now.

Another option that keeps you on the south side of the range is to go back east from Concrete to the Cascade Pass area. There is the Torment/Forbidden area, lots of good climbing there, not so much glaciated climbing but some great high alpine rock climbs. The Ptarmigan Traverse is great but if you are by yourself I would not advise that, you can get to the middle of nowhere really fast in that area.

As someone mentioned Olympus is a great hike/climb but even in august who knows about the weather.

If it was me.... at that time of year I would forget the glaciated peaks and go for stuff like the Torment Forbidden climbs or traverse.