Myth, legend, hardcore… these are the words that come to mind when talking about Mt Baker snowboarding. While it’s small in stature with heavy snow, Mt Baker is larger than life in snowboarding history. This terrain seriously packs a punch!
Why Visit It?
- Most snow in the country!
- The roots of snowboarding…
- It’s got that “Old School Flavor”
The pitter patter of rain showers hit the roof. The alarm blazes with the preprogrammed annoying sound you set the night before to ensure not to oversleep. The gloomy skies and the steady rapping are enough to make you hit snooze, curl up, and drift away. That would normally be the case. Not today though. Today is your first day at Mt Baker! Today, the anticipation and excitement alone are enough to fuel you from your slumber. Turn off the alarm, slam a protein bar, and grab your gear on the way out the door.
Landscape Reminiscent Of Jurassic Park
Once loaded in the car, the journey begins. Still half asleep, the decision is to swing into one of the many local espresso bars to help clear the grogginess. Liquid salvation brings you back to life as you head out of Bellingham and begin the ascent into the Cascades. The anticipation of the day is the driving force. The rain continues to pound as you climb. It makes you wonder if it’s really snowing on Mt Baker at all. Windshield wipers are maxed out now and most begin to wonder if the reported 16 inches and still dumping are a myth.
The large neon evergreen trees covered in moss on the drive up resonates scenes from Jurassic Park. Just then the rain begins to let up. The drops transform to slush. One more turn up the road, and the slush morphs to massive white flakes. Large wet maritime flakes. They stick to everything including the car. There is no escape. It suddenly feels like you’ve been transported to the moon! Just then you see signs and pull into the White Salmon lot. As you get out of the car, the snow slows down for a moment, and the clouds part to expose the Shuksan arm and the massive ridgeline in front of you. No one speaks. Gazing upwards, it was evident… this is a special place.
History
Normally when talking about a ski area, it’s about the history of how it began, but Mt Baker is slightly different. This is THE home of free riding for snowboarders. Looking around, it’s easy to understand why Mt Baker and snowboarding go hand in hand. It has a lenient policy for entering the backcountry. The infamous Legendary Banked Slalom is held here. This event is one of the oldest in snowboarding and is the predecessor to the concept of boardercross.
You won’t see speed suits like Giant Slalom but rather Gore-Tex and twin tip freeride boards. Also, to keep with the grassroots style, the winner receives a Duct Tape trophy along with an embroidered Carhartt jacket. To see the course in person, head over to Chair 8 and on the rider’s right toward the edge of the ski area boundary are the berms for the Mt Baker Banked Slalom course.
Another famous landmark here is the infamous Mt Baker Road Gap. This is the place where Shawn Farmer did the shirtless method over the road and nailed it the first time. Even though the Mt Baker Road Gap is in the backcountry, to see it in person, drive past the White Salmon Day Lodge, and it will be located right before the Heather Meadows Base Area.
Terrain
After snowboarding at over 88+ resorts over the decades, when it comes to terrain well-suited to snowboarding, Mt. Baker ranks pretty high on the list. While it may not have a terrain park per se, it doesn’t need one. It’s a free-riding paradise. Cliffs? Check. Steep & deep? Check. Gullies you can ride like a natural halfpipe? Check. Even the heavier snow of the maritime snowpack makes it feel like you’re riding a wave. And yet, it’s a mountain that doesn’t reveal itself right from the get-go. Just like a local surf break, understanding how the terrain flows is crucial to maximizing each turn. And that’s what makes it such a special place. For a full run-down of terrain and the mountain as a whole check out our Mt Baker Ski Guide.
Do Not Miss
The weather at Mt Baker can be unpredictable. Every storm that comes near Washington gets funneled right into the ski area. If the weather does clear, make sure to head over to Chair 8. Standing at the top of the lift looking left, the entire ridgeline is outside the ski area boundary and known as the Mt Baker Wilderness. Some of the most famous lines from early ski/snowboard videos were filmed there. You might even get lucky enough to see a rider hiking the ridgeline to get to one of these famous runs. Be patient! Watch them drop in and see something of true beauty. Something you would normally have to pop in a ski or snowboard video to see. It’s worth the wait!
Buyer Beware
Mt. Baker gets A LOT of snow! In fact, they set the world record in the 1998-99 season with over 1,100 inches of snow in a single season. But, beware—when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate and temperatures aren’t cold enough, it doesn’t snow… it rains. So, how do you know if it’s going to be raining or snowing at Mt. Baker? The best way to prepare is to check the weather forecast before driving up from Bellingham. We focus on the weather report for Glacier, Washington. Keep an eye on the snow level for the day—ideally, it should be around 2,500 feet for the best conditions. Otherwise, your Mt. Baker snowboarding session might end up a little sloppy.
What To Do If Ma’ Nature Flipped Off Old Man Winter
So, conditions aren’t cooperating for some Mt Baker snowboarding session? Luckily, Bellingham is a cool town to hang out in if the snow isn’t as good as forecasted. Head over to our in-depth guide to Mt Baker and Bellingham where we give you insight on our favorite local places to eat, drink, and be merry when in town.
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