TR w/pics: Baker, where have you been all my life?

[bigtrubs]

The players:
Amy (bigtrubs) and Andra

Other not quite so important and less ridiculously good looking characters:
Nick, Tyler, Kevan and Kyle

The Venue:
Mt. Baker

Fun Factor:
5,000,000,000 Megawatts of Awesome

*Disclaimer: There was too much snow and not enough time to take enough action pics!*

The weekend began with a dance till you drop evening at Caprice in downtown Vancouver on Friday night. Four hours after we went to bed, we were up and ready at 7am to check the snow report and see if Baker was skiable on Saturday. The fact that large sized tree branches were breaking off the surrounding trees and crashing onto my friend Andra's house in North Van was a hint that our wish to ski on Saturday would not come to fruition. We also had approximately zero interest in catching the Young Gun Open at Mount Seymour watching children in too baggy clothes doing flippy spinny things or fighting crowds to ride the Solar Coaster chair and other chairs not on wind hold on Blackcomb.

Instead, we felt it was a good idea to brave the mountains (of clothes) that awaited us at Bellis Fair Mall down in Bellingham. I bought lime green steve madden leather cowboy boots. So, while Saturday could have been a total loss, the cowboy boots almost made up for it. (You don't understand, I've been on the hunt for sweet boots for a good number of years!) Two stepping just isn't the same if you're not wearing real cowgirl attire.

We spent that evening socializing in Bellingham with friends at Boundary Bay pub and stayed in Mount Vernon for the night.

Sunday we got up nice and early for my VERY FIRST DAY AT BAKER.... EVER!

I really enjoyed the drive up, those trees covered in furry green moss are super cool to look at, and it's cool to go through such a rural and non-commercialized area to get up to the mountains. My little Jetta (Blingie Blingerson) managed to make it all the way to the upper lodge/parking lots so the day had gotten off to a very good start.

We were able to meet up with all our friends the second we got to the chair, only to find out that Kevan's Friday fall off a cliff in the Elf (?) Chutes had sprained his ankle so badly that he wasn't able to ski and had to go chill in the lodge. He got hit with cabin fever later, however, and ended up tearing around for the afternoon on a snowboard. We lost Tyler and Nick for a bit, and only Kyle was left with us to ski for the morning. Kyle rode up single and asked the other guy where the goods were (very politely, mind you) and other guy (Will, for future reference) said "Come with me, I'll show you!" Will was a very enthusiastic character. He has been skiing for 5 years and his last season was spent down at Sugar Bowl and what he lacked in form he made up for in energy. He also heavily underestimated our (mine and andra's) skiing ability and kept trying to point us to the blue runs, ouch. He showed us around to some lines off of chairs 1, 3, 5 and 6, so we were able to find our way around well enough once we parted ways. We then ran into Tyler and Nick as we rode over them on chair 5 (I think, I'm not good with numbers, okay!), as Nick had done a significant drop in the Hotel somethingorother (super fun place to ski, by the way,) and was digging around for a lost ski.

Finally the group was good to go and we shredded around on chairs 5 and 6 (I think) and found a lot of really fun little chutes and drops and leftover bits of powder.

Here is Nick doing something Crazy:


The Aftermath:


Scenic shot..... beeyooootiful......:


After more exploring, some lunch, and Nick and Tyler leaving, I decided to play tour guide for a bit and managed not to kill us riding to skier's right of chair 6 (maybe) and skier's left of the banked slalom course. The fun little fingers of snow there that you can jump off of or ski in between were very enjoyable. Basically, we had a lot of fun and enjoyed the snow that hadn't been shralped, thanks to Saturday's closure, didn't have to wait in a lot of lines, surprisingly, and saw a LOT of hot snowboarders, holy cow. We met up with Kevan on the snowboard and did a few more runs off chairs 5 and 6, finding lots of fun things to jump off of.

Final Thoughts/ Highlights:
1. I have never been heckled so much in my life by people on chairlifts. "Point it!" "Your poles are bent!" (Shiiiiiiit, really, how'd that happen?) "Wow, those pants are party pants. You win the weekend for most exciting pants..." ...And much more. Yeesh.

2. Have people down there never seen girls before? The truck full of guys driving down the access road and highway ahead of us were having a lot of trouble staying between the lines on the road, since the driver was either drunk, or spending the entire time trying to get a look at us through his mirrors. By the time we got to the first gas station, his friend on the passenger side was holding up a sign out the window that said either HOT, or HI! (We couldn't read it) and tried to wave us over to the gas station. Andra had to get to work though, so we decided that wasn't the best idea. Pretty funny, but honestly, keep your eyes on the road, champ!

3. I am willing to accept marriage proposals from really really ridiculously goodlooking american gentlemen if it means I can ski Baker and/or JH and/or Tahoe for the rest of my life.

Overall, I can't believe it has taken me so long to get to Baker, and it more than surpassed my already high expectations. Only regret is that I didn't have all my gear on, nor enough time to ski the Elf chutes and some of the other amazing backcountry elements we could see from in-bounds.

For those that actually made it to the end of this, sorry, that was long. Either hitting up Mount Cain for some b/c riding in my party pants or Whistler next weekend, more rambling TRs to come!

[DerJaeger]

I was at Mt Baker today myself, and can testify that the description is right on - it was just awesome up there today. Especially the first few runs of Panface in virgin fresh.

PS: Amy, I was looking out for you (and your fancy pants) but damn it, you're elusive!

[The AD]

3. I am willing to accept marriage proposals from really really ridiculously goodlooking american gentlemen

That pretty much rules out all the Washington maggots!

[LeeLau]

I luv Baker. I luv Baker backcountry. Next time you're there on a sunny day - heck any day - get out to Herman or Table or Lake Anne or Ptarmigan Ridge -- yum so much to see - nice TR

[DownhillRider]

1. I have never been heckled so much in my life by people on chairlifts. "Point it!" "Your poles are bent!" (Shiiiiiiit, really, how'd that happen?) "Wow, those pants are party pants. You win the weekend for most exciting pants..." ...And much more. Yeesh.

lmao, I think i'd be scared to ski under the lifts there. But the pants comments, now those kick ass. Those crazy baker bastards. I need to take a roadtrip there next year (hopefully my car will be lucky enough to make it up too!) Nice TR, but take more pics next time!!!! Seriously, 3 pics? That's just mean

[XtrPickels]

3. I am willing to accept marriage proposals from really really ridiculously goodlooking american gentlemen if it means I can ski Baker and/or JH and/or Tahoe for the rest of my life.

Naked pictures can help this along.

Also, pictures of the pants would be nice. It must be determined if the nakedness outweighs the embarrassment of skiing with you.

[bigtrubs]

Ones on the right, we already went over this in my Whistler TR a few weeks ago.

[Zeedashbo]

3. I am willing to accept marriage proposals from really really ridiculously goodlooking american gentlemen if it means I can ski Baker and/or JH and/or Tahoe for the rest of my life.

!

ummmm, yeah. i'm not sold.


why would anyone give up british columbia for overcrowded resorts in the u.s??

you're on the run from the law aren't you.

[Squirrel99]

I have never been heckled so much in my life by people on chairlifts. "Point it!" "Your poles are bent!" (Shiiiiiiit, really, how'd that happen?) "Wow, those pants are party pants. You win the weekend for most exciting pants..." ...And much more. Yeesh.

Ahh, one proud recipient of some BakerBoy & MBS heckling

nice write up. baker is definitely a uniquely rad place.

[fiddler]

Having seen the pic of your pants and skis I realize I saw you two up there today, well yesterday now, several times. You picked a good day to come, best visibility in awhile and all that new snow. Not to mention the Superbowl effect where everybody seemed to leave at 1 leaving no lift lines or crowds

[BakerBoy]

Ahh, one proud recipient of some BakerBoy & MBS heckling

nice write up. baker is definitely a uniquely rad place.

MBS is in Colorado shooting the Winter Park brochure, and I never saw any party pants, although I got hassled about my plaid a few times.

[bigtrubs]

Having seen the pic of your pants and skis I realize I saw you two up there today, well yesterday now, several times. You picked a good day to come, best visibility in awhile and all that new snow. Not to mention the Superbowl effect where everybody seemed to leave at 1 leaving no lift lines or crowds

As DerJaeger realized, the party pants unfortunately can't be everywhere at once. It was AWESOME right around noon and later, the crowds that were still there all seemed to be participating in the banked slalom! Where did you see us? Were you one of the aforementioned hecklers? haha

[Rusty Nails]

That pretty much rules out all the Washington maggots!

...only because I left this summer.

Of course, the only real estate I own is in... British Columbia.


Nice write up -- I'm waiting for Z-Bo to ride a lift with you and spit his undeniable game in your direction.

[bigtrubs]

I'm waiting for Z-Bo to ride a lift with you and spit his undeniable game in your direction.

Undeniable game, eh?

[whatcomridaz]

I have never been heckled so much in my life by people on chairlifts. "Point it!" "Your poles are bent!" (Shiiiiiiit, really, how'd that happen?) "Wow, those pants are party pants. You win the weekend for most exciting pants..." ...And much more. Yeesh.

Heckling is the new pastime at Baker, everyone on the lifts is obviously way more super gnar than those under it or at least so they think. Of course with those pants you might have deserved it :-) I don't think I saw you all day but yes shit was nowhere near the hook, the chain, or even attached to the fence, the dogs were already out and the roof raised. It was like Chuck Norris and Mr T walked into a bar and ...... Well With 20+" of superhero snow and windloaded pockets of 5'+, good vis, and every line filled in, the whole day was like a checklist. Hike into one midsation. , hairy trees, gunsite, dolphis, retaining wall huck, knob, everything stayed good all day, until I missed the entrance back across Rumble valley requiring a 45 minute hike in and then off to watch the 2nd half of the suckass bowl.

Glad to hear you had a good time down here and watch out for the hippies, they really do bite.

[Rusty Nails]

Undeniable game, eh?

Sometimes his game is merely irrefutable.

[Atrain505]

Looks fantastic just bring your gear next time to see the true baker goods.
Also you've been putting out quite a lot of e-invites to males lately eh?

[bigtrubs]

Believe it Atrain, believe it. Naw just kidding, just trying to figure out a feasible/affordable way to ski my fave American resorts more. And Canadian boys are cheap and smell like feet.

[Atrain505]

Well I'm cheap, smell bad...but I'm an american living in Canada. So where does that put me?

[bigtrubs]

That's why you're in Canada, you are no longer welcome with your kind.

[DownhillRider]

Canadian boys are cheap

I resent that!

[bigtrubs]

I resent that!

Okay sorry, what I meant to say is Canadian boys in Whistler are cheap, the not cheap ones in say, Vancouver and Calgary, have too much gel in their hair, and the boys in Victoria all smell like patchouli.

[rideit]

And the Nelson boys and girls?
They smell like....uhhh....take a guess.....

[BakerBoy]

Heckling is the new pastime at Baker, everyone on the lifts is obviously way more super gnar than those under it or at least so they think. Of course with those pants you might have deserved it :-) I don't think I saw you all day but yes shit was nowhere near the hook, the chain, or even attached to the fence, the dogs were already out and the roof raised. It was like Chuck Norris and Mr T walked into a bar and ...... Well With 20+" of superhero snow and windloaded pockets of 5'+, good vis, and every line filled in, the whole day was like a checklist. Hike into one midsation. Elf chute, hairy trees, gunsite, dolphis, poach Canyon, retaining wall huck, knob, everything stayed good all day, until I missed the entrance back across Rumble valley requiring a 45 minute hike in and then off to watch the 2nd half of the suckass bowl.

Glad to hear you had a good time down here and watch out for the hippies, they really do bite.

+10 gnar points for the internet claiming of in-bounds runs and poaching a run that will get everybody banned from dropping off the the elbow/elf when the canyon is closed. Good work.

[whatcomridaz]

Don't need the gnar points but thanks. Duly noted and removed, although I certaintly wasn't the first for either, and other unnamed lines dropping perilously close to closed areas were had as well although not by anybody I know or would associate with. Speaking of Canyon anyone know if it opened today?