Baker Mountain Guides

Well, that ended up being a pretty good weekend. We've never had an avalanche course with such bipolar weather. Yesterday was one of the worst days in the mountains that many of us can remember, and today was one of the best.

The weather continues to deliver! Our mid-week recon into the Twin Sisters Range had us wishing we brought the snowmobiles. Normally, we have to wait until January or February for quality conditions in the Sisters, but this year the zone will likely open up before X-mas.

Well that doesn't happen every day...

We first approached the Forest Service about establishing a backcountry ski hut in the Twin Sisters almost 6 years ago. After our first winter of experiencing incredible backcountry skiing and riding in the range, we decided that the best way to realize the full potential of the zone was via a hut.

It's been a long road with a lot of starts and stops, but the wheels are finally spinning and our proposal is moving forward. There are three other shelters being proposed in the Mt. Baker Ranger District as well. Two commercial huts at Heliotrope and Anderson Watson operated by Aspire Adventure Running and Round House Touring, respectively, and a warming hut up at Bear Paw that will be operated by the the Whatcom Snowmobile Club

For those of you who would like to share your thoughts regarding temporary winter shelters, there will be a public meeting at the Forest Service Office at 810 State Route 20 in Sedro Woolley on Wednesday, April 17th, from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Comments can also be submitted online and/or mailed to the Forest Service.

For more information, please visit the project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbs/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd1170564

Tomorrow afternoon, we will take a moment of silence to honor a dear friend, colleage, and fellow mountain wanderer. Matt Primomo, we grieve your departure from this planet and we honor the blessing of your soul. You inspired so many with your medicine, your wisdom, and your presence. You were truly a mountain mystic. We feel you in the mountain breeze, the texture of the rock, the lightness and brightness of snow -- and the smell of rain on dust.

If you haven't donated yet to Matt's family, Stella and young Milo, please consider doing so:

https://gofund.me/553d1934

Our second contribution for our quarterly, "Peak Experiences" column in Adventure Northwest has dropped. These days, the Twin Sisters Range has become notorious as a magical, backcountry paradise with a steep price of admission. However, there was a time, not too long ago, when nobody thought twice about the little, orange mountains between the bay and Baker.

We enjoy exploring and skiing in the Twin Sisters, but we also realize that our actions opened the floodgates to an untouched landscape. I'm not sure how I feel about that. My piece "Requiem for the Raptors" is an exploration of that grief.

Give it a read. Link in bio.

Good days end like...

Hey, guess what?

It's ski season. That is all.

Rebrand in progress!

Baker Mountain Guides avalanche education courses are now branded as Northwest Avalanche School programs. This shift marks a return to our core values and brings us into alignment with our identity as backcountry skiers, riders, and outdoor educators. For more information, follow the link in our bio.

Huge shout out to all of those who made it up to help clear the access into North Twin Sister again this year. The trail has come a long way since the days of skinning through open creaks and crawling on our hands and knees through alder tunnels.

Soon, this will all be buried in snow.

And so it begins...

The storm two weeks ago was just a tease. This one packs more of a punch.