Logo
    Show
    Hide
    Login
    Close

    SITE LOGIN

    • Forgot your password?

    Register

    Tailgate Industries
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
        • Skis
        • Boots
        • Bindings
        • Climbing Skins
        • Poles
        • Snowboards
      • Clothing
        • Hard Shells
        • Soft Shells
        • Insulation
        • Mid Layers
        • Base Layers
        • Gloves
        • Socks
      • Accessories
        • Safety Gear
        • Goggles and Helmets
        • Ski Touring Packs
        • Ski Boxes and Bags
        • Sleeping Bags - 4 Season
        • Technology
        • Sunglasses
        • Insoles & Braces
        • Books
      • Off-Season Gear
        • Hiking
          • Rain Shells
          • Day Packs
          • Apparel
          • Footwear
          • Safety
        • Camping
          • Backpacks
          • Sleeping Bags
          • Sleeping Pads
          • Tents
          • Coolers / Cooking
          • Furniture / Storage
          • Lighting / Power
        • Biking
        • Paddling
        • Climbing
        • Mountaineering
        • Running
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
        • Gear of the Year Winter 2024-2025
        • Gear of the Year Winter 2023-2024
        • Gear of the Year Archives
      • Best New Summer Gear
        • Best New Summer Gear 2023
        • Best New Summer Gear 2024
        • Best New Summer Gear 2022
        • Best New Summer Gear 2021
        • Best New Summer Gear 2020
      • Holiday Gift Guide
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2024
          • Holiday Gift Guide 2024 Base Layers
          • MSR Explore Revo Snowshoes
          • Fieldsheer Backcountry Heated Jacket
          • Fieldsheer Premium 2.0 Merino Heated Socks
          • MEC Hut Booties and Slippers
          • Arc’teryx Kopec GTX Shoe
          • Arc’teryx Kragg Insulated Approach Shoes
          • Gregory Verte 18 Backpack
          • Grundens Deck-Boss Ankle Boot
          • MEC Northern Light Vest
          • Montec-Scope-Ski-Goggles
          • Mountain Hardware Kor Airshell Hoody
          • Mountain Hardware Kor Alloy Crew
          • Arcade Atlas Belt
          • Dynafit Ridge Dynastretch Jacket
          • Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones
          • Buff Merino Move Multifunctional Neckwear
          • Bootdoc Foot Warmer
          • Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Pack
          • DPS LastBag
          • DPS PHANTOM Glide At-Home Kit
          • DPS Mission Quiver Roller
          • Dragon Amped sunglasses
          • Dragon DX3 Plus OTG photochromic goggle
          • Fuse Lenses Anclote Flashback
          • Garmin Fenix 8 Solar Sapphire Watch
          • Gregory Alpaca Gear Tote 30
          • Hotronic Boot Dryer
          • MEC Aluminum Pot Set
          • Gnara Go There Pants
          • Grundens Shackleton 2.0 Duffel
          • Jones Deeper 19L Backpack
          • Le Bent Core Midweight Crew base layer
          • Leatherman ARC
          • Montane Nordes Hooded Softshell Jacket and Pants
          • Helly Hansen Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket
          • Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity Shell Jacket 2.0
          • Montec Fawk Ski Jacket
          • Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 Skins
          • Rab Glaceon Pro Down Jacket
          • Rab Khroma Converge GORE-TEX Ski Jacket & Pants
          • Smith Squad MAG Goggles
          • Stellar Guide Aerogel Hybrid Hood 2.0
          • Stellar Ultralight Down Hood 2.0
          • Arms of Andes Alpaca Half Zip & Wool Leggings
          • Cotopaxi Allpa 70L Duffel Bag
          • Giro Taggert Mips Helmet
          • Loonr Hi Flyer Boots
          • Paka Mountain Crew
          • Roll Recovery SUPERPLUSH Classic Shoes
          • Smartwool Smartloft Hooded Jacket and Pants
          • Ortovox Switchback 32 Ski Touring Backpack
          • Cotopaxi Allpa X 3L Hip Pack
          • Giro Sagen Ski Goggle
          • Icebreaker Ski+ Over the Calf Socks
          • MEC-Fireside-Fleece-Snap-Pullover
          • Montec Roast Mittens
          • Mountain-Hardware-Sunblocker-Hoody
          • MSR Titan Kettle 900 ml
          • Tailgate-Industries-The Gondom-Goggle-Cover
          • Wild Country Rope Tarp
          • Bootdoc Race Merino PFI 50 Socks
          • Remind Soles Destin Impact Insoles
          • Kari Traa Rose Baselayer Half Zip Top and Pants
          • Le Bent Midweight Quarter Zip
          • Ombraz Dolomite Sunglasses
          • Ortovox Fleece Rib Hoody
          • Ortovox Merino Thermovent Base Layer
          • Smartwool Intraknit Merino Tech Half Zip
          • Suunto Wing Bone Conduction headphones
          • Sweet Protection Adapter Mips Helmet
          • Sweet Protection Connor Rig Reflect Goggles
          • Zeal Optics Selkirk Glacier Glasses
          • Norrona more flex1 Pants
          • Norrona Octa Zip Hood
          • Norrona Lyngen Alpha100 Zip Hood
          • MEC Deluxe Pillow
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2023
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2022
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2021
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2019
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2018
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2017
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2016
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • NEWS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
        • Alpine Touring Boots
        • Backcountry Skis
        • Alpine Touring Bindings
        • Backcountry Accessories
        • Off-Season Gear
        • Climbing Skins
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
      • Newsletter
      • Contest
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Off-Season Gear
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
      • Holiday Gift Guide
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • NEWS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
      • Newsletter
      • Contest
    Newsletter Signup

    TOP VIDEOS

      HOTTEST REVIEWS


      Hagan Boost 99 POW Skis Garmin inReach Plus Scarpa 4-Quattro Pro 130+ Top Ski Reviews Ortovox Ravine Jacket Scarpa Maestrale RS Boots

      Ortovox
      North Valley Huts
      Avalance Canada
      ROAM
      Fritschi Swiss Bindings
      Search
      • Home
      • »
      • Forum
      • »
      • Touring Locations
      • »
      • Coast Mountains
      • »
      • COMP - Fresh Tracks for all!! Mt Baker, Oct 15 2011

      BACKCOUNTRY NEWS AND FORUMS

      Welcome to your source for the latest news, conditions, and insights on backcountry skiing and adventuring. Explore reports, gear reviews, safety tips, and more to help you make the most of your time in the wild.

      If you sign up as a member this is your chance to tell everyone about everything and anything to do with backcountry skiing. Follow the simple steps to register and WHAMMY, you’re in. If you are pulling your hair out with frustration, have a look at the help forums for answers or take a pause and drop us an email at: info (at) backcountryskiingcanada.com. We’ll do our best to help out as soon as we can (but all bets are off on a powder day, obviously).  


      COMP - Fresh Tracks for all!! Mt Baker, Oct 15 2011

      • RSS
      • Subscribe
      • atruse
        2011-12-08 16:55:25

        COMP - Fresh Tracks for all!! Mt Baker, Oct 15 2011



        Our first "fresh" turns of 2011 ~

        for more pics and video check out my blog :) http://avidalpine.wordpress.co.....s-for-all/



        Autopilot. A blur, painted in familiarity, scrambles along my car windows, could it be that we have come this way before? If I didn’t know better I would say I drive this road daily. Having frequented Baker a half-dozen times in as many weeks certainly adds an air of disinterest to the drive, which now passes in the blink of an eye. I feel almost as if I had nodded off in the driver’s seat, following the turns of the highway, eyes closed, as if led by some strange cosmic energy, the spirit of the mountain drawing me near. The smell of coffee wrestles me from the road-coma and I pull off for an extra-large dose of life, convince a border guard it *IS* possible to go skiing today (sometimes this takes a lot of work), and sink once more into the zombie-like state created by frequenting such a highway. “Turns……Tuuurrrns.” the eerie zombie-mantra plays in my head.We arrive at the Heliotrope Ridge trail parking lot and park right behind Andy and Andrew, who are in the process of gearing up. I’m surprised to see them in the parking lot, as they had left Vancouver at least 30 minutes before us. A few quick minutes later and we are all packed up and stepping onto the trail. There are five of us today, Grace Wong is skiing for the first time, Jes Jelinek recently underwent back surgery and is out for some air (and to help Grace), Andy Jackson is testing out a new set-up (Scarpa Skookums, Dynafit TLT SPD, Volkl Gotama, you dirty LUSH), Andrew Leduc and myself. We stick together, mostly, as we climb steadily through the forest, the rapid change of seasons evident all around us. The air is cold, frost is present on the ground in many places, and as we gain elevation we find more and more patches of thick ice along the trail. We emerged from the forest into bluebird conditions with a smattering of snow thrown over the landscape, thickening to a few inches near the glacier. So much of the landscape has been filled in with snow since our last visit, I would estimate a decent snow cover exists as low as 5800ft.

        Reaching the glacier there is an obvious skin track to the right, where a small congregation is swapping from trail footwear to ski boots, joining them we converse and joke as we revel in the fresh powder that lay all about. Andy and Andrew set off up the glacier and I wait for Grace and Jes to catch up. I help Grace swap into ski gear and immediately realize I have left her skins in the trunk of my car, genius! I guess we can learn to skin another day. Once Grace and Jes are set I head up the glacier to get some turns in, moving quick as I can trying not to miss the first run.

        I manage to “catch” A&A who are breaking for lunch, it’s not nearly food time for me so I hand off the stove, grab the GoPro and continue on my way, trying to pass everyone I can see in the skin track. I reach the top of the feature in no time, the altimeter says 7196ft, making it around 1400ft of good snow to ski.  I quickly stash my skins in my pack and chose a fresh line down the center of the face, the snow is delightful, light, fluffy, cold. It seems strange how long into the day these winter conditions held, it was still hovering around -2 degrees Celsius at the warmest of times. I make a wonderous mess of things as I drop in, fine powder sprays off my tails as I butcher my turns leaving behind me a twisted tale etched in the snow. I’m looking forward to riding a more aggressive, harder charging ski after being on the K2 Kung Fujas since spring, a fan of higher speeds and longer turns, it shows in my skiing.

        Dropping in fresh pow in October !

        Finally, at around 3pm Andy, Andrew and myself gathered on the ridge-top for one last trip down, taking turns jumping off the largest, most prominent feature to start the run. The snow was still immaculate as we charged down the slopes, though untouched patches had become harder to find. Arriving at the base of the skin track we swapped out our gear and said our goodbyes, eager to beat the rush across the border. The day couldn’t have been better, both the presence and quantity of fresh powder were surprising to everyone, and a very welcome change after skiing throughout the summer on all manner of mank, ice and rock.





      • andrew
        2011-12-09 13:46:41

        Hi Atruse. Thanks for your comp entry but check out our regs to make sure you comply. Look here. We need to see 100 +  words from you as part of your submission. Providing a link to your own website won't do it. Please adjust accordingly if you want to be in the running.

        Looks like a sick trip BTW. We look forward to seeing more of your stuff!


        Andrew (site troll #2)


      • atruse
        2011-12-10 18:18:24

        okie thanks! will add the write up


        cheers!


      Ortovox
      North Valley Huts
      Avalance Canada
      ROAM
      Fritschi Swiss Bindings
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy

      Copyright © 2023-24 Backcountry Skiing Canada. All Rights Reserved.