Mount Baker, Railroad Grade — Sunday, Jun. 17, 2018

Climbed Baker by Easton Glacier route.

We came Saturday morning to trailhead, it were many cars there parked along the road. Trailhead still not accessible you have to stop few hundred feet before.

Trail all the way covered with snow but it still firm and easy to go. We crossed the river that flows from the mountain by boulders but next day it was much more water and we crossed it by fallen tree. In 2-3 hours we reached end of Rrailroad grade and set camp at area where trees ends. At camp we was doing some crevasse rescue and self arrest training but rain stopped us but later rewarded us with great rainbow.

Next morning at 3.30 am we started climb, put crampons on, ropes, axes. When we reached actual end of Railroad Grade we have seen many tents there, lots of people was climbing mountain that day. Firm snow, good boot prints gave us easy climb up. Glacier in excellent condition still, no crevasses, we crossed one actually but it was very narrow, just step over it. Step by step we reached the crater, took some photos, food and headed up to the summit. After the crated Roman Wall begins. It is steep but but easy doable with ice axe and crampons. Trail goes as switchbacks and we stuck few times trying to divide narrow trail with other rope teams going down but it is ok, as I said it was busy day at the mountain. After Roman Wall you have to climb little bit more but less stepper slope where you can see the summit, walk few minutes by flat field and you there! Very strong wind on the summit pushed us back in 5 mins.

Descent was long but beautiful, we spent some time at the crater again for food and photos. Rest of the way snow was much softer and easy to go down, we got back to the camp in 2-2.5 hours.

My fourth WA volcano!