2025-05-04 |  Mt. Baker and the North Cascades | Washington

Powder snow on Mt Baker! - April 28, 2025    Photo: Blackbird Guide Nicholas Westfall

Our guides have been out on Mt Baker a lot over the last couple of weeks. Conditions have been amazing for both climbing and skiing, with excellent coverage on the upper mountain. Trailhead access continues to improve. On the Kulshan approach, consistent skinning can be found from about 4500 feet.



Pretty darn good coverage at the moment. - April 29, 2025   Photo: Blackbird Guide Andrew Richardson


Although winter snow can surely be found still, timing the corn skiing has paid dividends. The Park Glacier, the Easton Glacier, and the Deming Glacier have been skiing well. Crevasses are largely bridged, and relatively easy to identify at the moment.



Stoked clients out on Mt Baker! - April 29, 2025     Photo: Andrew Richardson


The Roman Wall - May 2, 2025     Photo: Andrew Richardson

High on the mountain, wind effect and rime ice exist, creating firm and supportable climbing conditions. Ski quality has been less consistent on the upper slopes of the mountain recently as a result.

Skiing the Park Glacier - May 3, 2025     Photo: Andrew Richardson


Conditions on the Thunder Glacier - May 2, 2025     Photo: Andrew Richardson

Spending a couple of nights on the mountain can afford more time skiing, and a bigger window for summit attempts! At the Hogsback camp, one site is melted out, but the sites are still on snow. There is no water access from Kulshan Creek to Hogsback at the moment. At Gargoyle camp, there is accessible water in the afternoon due to snowmelt. 



Ski dreams!   - April 28, 2025     Photo: Nicholas Westfall


Enjoying time in the alpine in the Cascades - April 28, 2025     Photo: Nicholas Westfall

Take advantage of the excellent skiing conditions and book a ski or climb of Mt Baker with one of our expert Guides today!

Current Mt Baker Road Access Conditions 
- FS 39 is clear and open all the way to the North side trailhead (Grouse Creek/Kulshan Creek)
- FS 13 is clear to about a mile shy of the South side trailhead (Schreiber's Meadow)
- Shannon Ridge Road is clear and open all the way to access Shuksan/Suplhide routes

About the Author:

Chris Cloyd is a Splitboard Guide and AIARE Avalanche Instructor based in June Lake, CA. He works as Blackbird's Program Manager, helping put together trips into the backcountry from the Eastern Sierra all the way up to the North Cascades in Washington.