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Mount Baker History | Mt Baker

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Snowboarding at Mt Baker

Mt Baker is just a little over an hour east of Bellingham, Washington on HWY 542. This active volcano is the 3rd highest elevation in Washington State at 10,781 ft. (Mount Rainier 14,410 ft. & Mount Adams 12,276 ft.) Mt Baker is best known for deep powder days. If you hit the weather right, you could easily be riding in over 14 inches of snow. Check out some of the videos below.

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Mount Baker History

The Mount Baker History

Mount Baker is an active volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range. The cone of Mt Baker is actually relatively young at 30,000 years old. However the current cone sits above an older volcano dating back to 300,000 - 500,000 years ago. The current shape of Mount Baker was formed by glacial movement during the last ice age.

More Mount Baker History

While Mount Baker was originally discovered by Native Americans, a Spanish explorer "officially" discovered Mount Baker in 1790, while exploring the newly discovered Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The first recorded successful accent of Mount Baker occurred by, veteran alps mountaineer, Edmund Thomas Coleman in 1868. His initial attempt was in 1868 via the Skagit River, but he was denied access by a Native American Tribe. During Coleman's 2nd and successful attempt, he approached Mount Baker from the Nooksack River side.

Learn about the Mount Baker History of the Ski Area.

Mt Baker Homes & Cabins for sale

Mount Baker Cabin and Real Estate Expert


Ryan Martin is the local Mt Baker real estate expert with Windermere Real Estate. He specializes in selling Mount Baker homes and cabins. If you are interested in owning a vacation home or rental cabin at mount baker take a look at the current inventory by clicking here or on the cabin.
Mt Baker homes for sale

There are 2 gated communities and a modest condominium building located near the Mount Baker ski area in the town of Glacier. Snowline and The Mt Baker Rim are the two primary gated communities in Glacier. Learn more about the different Mt Baker Communities

Join the Mt Baker Community Online

The Mt Baker Connection is most complete online source of information about the Mt Baker region. Learn about the history of the Mt Baker Ski Area, keep up to date with the Mount Baker blog, and explore the interactive Mt Baker map.

You can also join the Mt Baker Connection Forum to find local outdoor gear, learn about the best snowboarding runs at Mt Baker, or find the best places to fish on the Nooksack River.

Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom Snowboarding Contest

This is the worlds oldest snowboarding contest at Mt Baker, WA

Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom Snowboarding Contest

Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom Snowboarding Contest

Amazon Price: (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now

The Legendary Banked Slalom is the longest running snowboard contest in history. Snowboarders come from around the world to race in this contest. Professional snowboarders showcased include Terje Haakonsen, Barret Christy, Temple Cummins, Victoria Jelouse, Joey McGuire, Tom Burt and more. Local musicians Midget Money, Chico's Paradise and Panhandle Jumpers serve up live music all weekend. Featuring world class riders with local flare, the Legendary Banked Slalom is the most rider driven, deep snow riding contest around.

Books about Mt Baker Washington on Amazon

Read up on Mt Baker, WA when you get a chance

The Mt. Baker Book

The Mt. Baker Book

by: Paul Hodge

Amazon Price: $51.58 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now

This combination guidebook and gazetteer describes and pictures all of the named features of the Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan region of the North Cascades. All of the lakes, rivers, streams, peaks and glaciers are discussed and guides to the roads, campgrounds and trailheads are included.

Mt Baker Ski Area Vids

These are some of the most recent videos from Mt Baker. You can tell by the video's why people rave about the deep powder at Mt Baker. Most of these videos are even filmed in bounds.
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Mount Baker DVD on Amazon

Great DVD filmed in Washington State at Mt Baker

Ascend Mt Baker

Ascend Mt Baker

Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 02/15/2012)Buy Now

The second in the Ascend Cascade Series, Ascend Mount Baker, gives you big mountain experience on a smaller, easily accessible peak. Located in Washington Stes North Cascades wilderness, Mount Baker is an excellent introduction to mountaineering, and offers routes for beginners and seasoned experts alike. Expert commentary from the legendary Fred Beckey on some of the routes

Mt Baker Ski Area - Mt Baker Resort

The Mount Baker Ski Area on Mt Shuksan

The Mt Baker Ski Area is technically not located on Mt Baker. It is located on Mt Shuksan. In the 1998-99 season, The Mt Baker Ski Area set a world record for snowfall with 1,140 inches of snow. Although, the average seasonal snowfall is 647 inches. The Mt Baker Ski Area offers a total of 1,500 vertical feet inbounds with 8 chairs in operation.

Mt Baker Ski Area Chairlifts

Chairlifts for Mtn Baker Washington

The lifts at Mt Baker are not named - they are referred to by number.

1. Double chair from the Heather Meadows upper base area to the top of Panorama Dome - there is a midpoint station on this lift where other riders can catch it halfway down the mountain, allowing for speedy runs on the Austin, Pan Face, North Face, Chicken Ridge, and the famed Chute. Also accessible from 1 is the Canyon, and the rest of the chair 6 terrain.

2. Quad chair at the Heather Meadows upper base area. This is a chair for beginners, very mellow rolling run.

3. Recently upgraded to a quad. This lift reaches the top of runs that can go either to the chair 4/5/6/Raven Hut area or back down to chair 2 and 3.

4. Recently changed from the second side of chair 3, chair 4 is the second half of that chair that runs from the 4/5/6/Raven Hut area and back up to the top of chair 3.

5. This quad chair replaced two parallel chairs (4 and 5). The chair access intermediate and expert terrain.

6. Chair 6 is a fixed grip quad that runs to the top of Panorama Dome. It accesses advanced and expert terrain.

7. The only chair that leaves from the White Salmon base area. From 7, one can access 8, or the 4/5/6/RavenHut area.

8. Chair 8 takes riders to the terrain park, and all of the same terrain accessible from chair 5. F.

Where to Eat at Mt Baker

Places to dine at the mountain, Mount Baker Washington

There are two day lodges with parking and full amenities (White Salmon and Heather Meadows), and a third ski-in lodge ("Raven Hot Cafe") with food. Tip: bring US Dollar cash; while Mastercard and Visa are accepted for lift tickets and gear rentals, cash gets you a discount, and only cash is accepted at some food counters. Heather Meadows lodge is a better starting point for new visitors, since it has a wider range of gear rental and good access to the slopes.

The Mt Baker Ski Shop

Great place to buy snowboards on your way to Mt Baker, WA

Are looking to buy a new snowboard or apparel? Shop with the locals. The Mt Baker Snowboard Shop is located in Glacier, WA. They have everything from wax, to snowboards to gloves in stock. Make sure to check them out on your way up to Mt Baker.

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RyanRE

I am a full time real estate agent with Windermere Real Estate in Bellingham, Washington. If you would like to learn more about my business take a look... more »

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