Mount Baker

This was a guided climb with two climbing teams, both of which made the summit. The hike to base camp at 7,000 feet was a little tedious and took about five hours but the view of the surrounding Cascade Peaks and eventually the Easton Glacier was well worth the effort.

Summit day was clear and crisp. The temperature never got above freezing and the climb to the summit was another five hours-albeit most of the climb from base camp was actually on the glacier and there were a few crevasses.

The hardest part of the climb was a technical 50 foot climb up sheer ice near the crater rim at about 10,00 feet. Thereafter, the ascent was steep but the summit was not far away.

The actual summit was exposed rock and the wind was probably a steady 20-25 miles per hour. The view was breathtaking-all the way to the Pacific, Canada and Mt. Rainier.