[MCR] N Cascades; Mt Baker

Subject: [MCR] N Cascades; Mt Baker
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 21:53:19 -0700
Finally, a nice day!  

This morning was looking pretty clear, so a trip to Coleman Glacier on Mt Baker 
was in order.  The trail had spotty snow to the old Kulshan Cabin site, and 
solid snow above 4700ft.  The crust was firm and held up into mid morning.  At 
noon, around 7000ft,  a ski boot would sink in about 30cm.  This made the 
travelling pretty good as we were on skis anyway,  The skiing was beautiful 
smooth corn.   The crevasses  looked nicely filled in, the  glide cracks at the 
toe of the glacier were starting to widen.

A piece of ice fell of the cliffs on the N Face, (around 9300ft),   rumbled 
down, entraining snow, and creating a dust cloud that rolled over the approach 
to the N Face.   The debris from the avalanche came very close to the usual 
approach, and would of smoked anyone taking a "high Line" to the start of the 
route.   

On the upper reaches of the mountain, a moderate West wind was   observed, 
blowing spindrift off the ridgelines.   The sky became overcast in early 
afternoon,  and off to the west the next system was sending mid level clouds 
onto the coast.

Paul Berntsen,
Mountain Guide.
_______________________________________________
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