I just got back from a trip to Mt. Bakers Easton Glacier. This trip was a 3 day Mt. Baker Summit climb. The weather was a little challenging on this trip, and the summit conditions were some of the worst I have ever had to deal with. These trips start with an early morning meeting and gear check and then a drive to the trail head at Mt. Baker. We then hike in and build a camp just above treeline. Day 2 is usually a skills day covering snow walking, ice walking, ice axe use , and roped glacier travel. Day 3 is summit day and the long hike out.
Fog covering the trees on the approach hike. I shot no more photos worth posting the first day due to crappy weather and zero visiblility.
Fog in Valley below on the morning of day 2.
Jeff and Jeff enjoying the morning.
Fog in the valley
Dwayne and Alex
The Twin Sisters Range
Cindy heading up for skills day
A guy walking on the ridge next to camp
A second shot because I cant figure out which one I like the most
Tim and Cindy
The first hint of light in the morning.This is the first time I have tried using the D300 at 3200 ISO. I like the results.
A little later on the summit trip. The weather is still holding out.
Clouds moving up the mountain. Us too.
Moving around crevasses.
The well beaten trail up the mountain.
Our Summit shot. Fogged lens. Between turning around at the summit crater due to heavy rain and temps in the 30s I put the camera away. It was just too wet to be shooting photos. The camera still got soaked, but there were not ill effects. The other rope team of five very hearty soles chose to continue to the top with Chris. The slightly smarter group agreed to go down with me. I owe Chirs a beer for the seriously rough summit duty.Today I am still chasing off a case of the flu brought on by a few too many days of work in a row. As always, its still better than sitting at a desk. Even on the worst days.
--Alasdair Turner, AAI Guide
