Alpine Ice Course:

Mount Baker, July 2006

I meet Joseph (my instructor) and we travel to Mt Baker. After hiking into Harrison camp, we spend the day on the lower Coleman Glacier reviewing snow travel and ice climbing techniques.

We move camp up to Helitrope Ridge, then spend the day on the Coleman Glacier reviewing crevasse rescue, roped travel, and doing a bit more ice climbing.

At 3:15 am we cross the Coleman glacier, then ascend the hourglass gully to the north ridge. Steep snow leads to steeper ice pitches, then the summit. We descend via the normal Coleman-Deming route and relax in camp. I wait all afternoon for the clouds to clear to view the Thunder Glacier.

We descend back to Harrison Camp and spend the rest of our time ice climbing and practicing rescue scenarios. Finally, we hike out and return to Bellingham.

I spend the next 4 days hiking and scrambling on my own north of Mount Baker. I hiked up Church Mountain, Hannegan Peak, Tomyhoi Peak and Yellow Aster Butte and Excelsior Peak and Pass.