Railroad Grade — Sunday, Sep. 23, 2001

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

Headed up to Mt Baker for a hookie day and hit the Park Butte trail with the anticipation of hitting high camp and exploring the Easton Glacier. We were the only ones on the trail that we saw, except for the 2 workers that had been doing some major extensive work on the trail. Man is this a great trail now! Not that it wasn't before, but now it is rockin! They are still doing alot of work and hauling timber and other supplies up the trail. They are mainly focusing on the switchbacks after the river crossings. Be patient as there may be heavy machinery on the trail. The views were incredible as once we got out of Sedro Wooley and such and gained some elevation on the Baker Lake Hwy, it was gorgeous. So it was sun for the rest of the way up, and Marmots sang to us as the glacier beckoned us. The glacier has certainly receded this year as there was no trace at the first high camp at about 6100 feet. Made our way up the ridge on the climbers path and stopped at about 6500 feet where we had lunch and put on our gear. The glacier was in good condition and had a nice spot to traverse to get on the main flat portion of the Easton that was relatively sound. Checked out the numberous crevasses that could fit large motorhomes inside of them and made our way up to 7000 feet where the wands guided us. At this ridgeline is where I called it as there were too many crevasse jumps and the sun had shined brightly for many hours so we headed back down and just explored around some of the seracs and such. Many large crevasse collapse and such on the lower portion of the glacier that echoed throughout the valley. Got up to highcamp in 2 hours, another 30 minutes to the glacier from there across screefields. 1.25 hours down. Got back in the car and descended into the yuck that I call home: Everett. Keep climbing mountains and don't slip! scott@nwog.org