Mount Shuksan — Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

Wanted to get one last climb in before winter - and was this the weekend or what? Started mid-day from trail head - a few blowdowns in the trees as you get to the top of the ridge. However, this weekend the views were amazing of Baker and points east. Once over the notch we remembered not to take the obvious trail to the left, rather the harder to find trail to the right gaining Sulfide. Camping in the evening was an experience - late enough in the year no bugs up there - early enough that it was comfortable - and clear skys around. We had a great discussion of stars, and a quarter moon shone brightly for quite a while. Next morning we were up before dawn, heading up the glacier - crevasses were obvious, but it was really icy throughout the trip on the glacier, including on the way back. The pyramid was snow-free except near the top - we had a large group and rapped down, crossing the glacier in early afternoon. The trip out was uneventful - other than the breathtaking beauty of the views back to the car...we couldn't name half of the mountains we saw in the distance. What a weekend to call the last this year!!!