A group of skiers and riders during an AIARE 1 avalanche course in the Mt Baker backcountry. Photo: Brandon Seymore, 2023-12-02.
Mt Baker Backcountry Ski Conditions
Heather Meadows 2023-12-02
Things are shaping up in the Baker backcountry! Above 4,200' in the Mt Baker backcountry, things are looking great. We have multiple teams in the field this weekend touring in the Heather Meadows area and reports are of great snow coverage and with challenging ski conditions.
Heather Meadows in all its glory. The coverage and conditions are great for early season and our teams are having an excellent time in the field! Photo: Brandon Seymore, 2023-12-02.
Good coverage at Heather Meadows means that our teams have been able to travel in a variety of terrain and are enjoying turns in soft snow. The snowpack has some interesting layers and is a little "upside down," meaning there is a slab of stiffer snow on top of softer snow. This definitely makes skiing more challenging and also creates the potential for increased avalanche hazard.
A small slab avalanche on a test slope triggered during our AIARE 1 in Mt Baker. Photo: Brandon Seymore, 2023-12-02.
Our AIARE 1 Avalanche course participants have been having a great time exploring the terrain and snowpack layering. There is definitely some interesting stuff going on in the Mt Baker backcountry at the moment, and it's a perfect opportunity to see the layering that increases avalanche hazard firsthand - even if it is at the cost of ski quality!
Blackbird MTN Guide Doug Bernard during an AIARE 1 avalanche course testing ski conditions in the Mt Baker Backcountry. Photo: Doug Bernard.
Ski penetration of 15-20cm soft snow! The coverage is good enough for ample travel in the Mt Baker backcountry right now. Photo: Brandon Seymore, 2023-12-02.
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Mt Baker Conditions, Weather and Webcams Page
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AIARE 1 Avalanche Course Mt Baker
Current backcountry ski conditions skinning in Heather Meadows in the Mt Baker Backcountry on Sunday. Photo: Doug Bernard. ________
Reviewing terrain in the Mt Baker backcountry. _______