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Baker 2018?

12K views 91 replies 28 participants last post by  SteepNDeep 
#1 ·
Ok…At this point…hesitant and just thinking about and seeing if there is any out-of-state/area interest. I had mucho fuunwa meeting and riding with other forumites this winter…sooo. Since Baker is one of those kind of places that is a pilgrimage; is there any interest for a mid-week to mid-week, 5-7 days toward the end of Feb, first part of Mar 2018...no guarantees on the weather. Say 5-8 folks splitting the cost for a van and a house in Glacier for the week, mostly cooking our own meals, hitting Baker and with the possibility of doing some easy or gnarls-guided BC for a day or two. So if there is enough commitment, I might be willing to coordinate the local logistics to make it happen. Presuming...having definite commitments/deposits by October.
wrath
 
#4 ·
If this only wouldn't be at the end of the world... :laugh:
I've to see how our vacation plans for next year shape up... will keep it in mind!
 
#10 ·
Definitely interested, im thinking im gonna do a 3 week road trip next year and im pretty sure it will be easy to make this work, not sure about back country hiking stuff, I got some bitch ass midwest sea level lungs, would slow ya guys down.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Flying...the easiest will be Bellingham International Airport BLI, or you can do SeaTac or Vancouver BC...but then you got to shuttle or bus or AmTrack. Sea/Tac and Portland is the connecting hub and with Vancouver BC got to have the passport. For folks that want to do an extended PNW...consider Portland for Hood and Bachelor, SeaTac for Crystal and White Pass... and Vancouver for Whistler and Nelson powder valley.

As for the lungs.....the ski area elevation is only 5500 feet...so as long as ya ain't a smokin hacker you will be fine. Besides the pics below are just a 30 min hike from the top of a chair...so lift assisted bc laps. But you got to have the avy and bc gear...which can be rented in Bham and possibly in Glacier.



 
#15 · (Edited)
SeaTac vs Bham...sometimes you can catch rates in/out of Bham (that of course mostly connect in SeaTac or Portland) that are $40 more and other times it can be $200+

A shuttle will at least cost $60, and more with AmTrack...However there is also the https://www.boltbus.com/ that I don't know much about.

I figure if most folks fly in and out the same day in Bham it could be easy to round-up at my house or a local brew pub...I could run back and forth as folks arrive/depart. My house is about 10 min from the airport. And then caravan to Glacier which is about 50 minutes.

But whatever
 
#28 ·
I'm in.

My only reservation is that with things like this I have bad habit of having to cover the costs of other people who flake. If we think we have ten people and book a cabin that sleeps ten, and then five people flake, I don't want my lodging fees to double... so let's collect deposits before booking and then use any leftover money to buy food for the group.

I'd love to have a day for heli or cat back country, as long as there isn't a lot of hiking involved :embarrased1:

As far as the timing goes... i'll have another week long ski trip at the beginning of february, so if we could do this over a weekend (like a thursday to tuesday dealio) so that i don't have to take another full week off work that would be great.

Could I get a ride from the airport to the lodging? I'll pay for gas money.
 
#37 · (Edited)
The only issue I have with waiting until the last minute to pick exact dates is getting the time off work. On the other hand it can be really hard to make a commitment so far in advance. October like Wrath suggested originally is fine with me.
Of course I'm probably not going to be able to stay for the whole time and I'm still a little hesitant about staying with a bunch of guys I've never met... so you can just ignore me if you want.
 
#38 ·
Well the truth/reality is that wrath is making the plans/reservations and his plans are what I will follow should it come together. You cant make everyone happy.

He is there all the time so I trust he knows where in glacier to stay, its a very small town with very limited housing.

If someone has a grander plan then put the wheels in motion. If others like them they will go.
 
#44 · (Edited)
Moi thoughts….

The reason for putting the idea out there now, is for folks that might travel from afar…like from the wrong coast; folks that have to secure days off of work well in advance and due to making travel arrangements to this “end of the road place” or to accommodate other extended travel scheduling. And to get lodging reservations…cause during some Baker events, places are booked yearly or years in advanced.

Glacier lodging...THIS IS TENTATIVE...the evening Thursday March 8, 2018 to Tuesday March 13, 2018. Thus red-eye folks could ride on Thursday through Tuesday and fly out late on Tuesday or Wednesday.

March is generally a snowy month …see link for this past season’s stats. Also the gnarlz terrain is more filled-in and thus more potential to hit it.
https://www.mtbaker.us/snow-report

These dates also offer a gap in Baker’s event action, i.e., after big LBS race and before the Baker split-board festival where lodging can be tight if not impossible. It is also after the weekly Komo Kids group lessons and after the local ski bus season…thus less newbs and folks on the hill and again more lodging potential.

I did briefly talk to my friend in Glacier but we need to explore various possibilities and firm up dates. Currently, my initial plan is to secure lodging for 5-8 people for 5-6 nights. And if there are more folks willing to commit, I will see if there are other either larger places or finding another place. Which brings up the question if there are more folks…1 big place or smaller places?

In any event for those who want to play it loose, I will try to get a list of potential places that might be available for you to make last minute arrangements. But be warned Glacier is small; population is between 100-200 depending on the season, there is 1 small convenience store, a bakery, 1 ski/board rental shop and 1 board retail shop and 3 small restaurants...no gas station nor post office. AND THERE IS NO or very spotty CELL PHONE RECEPTION in the Glacier area.

For BC…I would encourage, if you want to do some BC and you got the gear, BRING IT...disclaimer...I am a BC noob.

edit: Baker is a low elevation...3500 at the bottom and 5500 at the top. Thus snow conditions are really weather temperature dependent...general temps range from 22 to 35+ degrees. Thus plan on bring gortex and wicking layers along with low/flat light goggles.
 
#48 ·
I'm already planning a weeklong trip to *somewhere* with friends - I'll have to see if I can swing 2 whole weeks off of work in winter, but I'm interested and tentatively in. At worst, me and the skier will get our own lodging/be there for the weekend and meet you guys at the mountain :)
 
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