Storm Chasing to Mt Baker

The alluring peak of Mt Shuksan

Words and Photos by Vince Shuley

I’d been itching to make it down to Baker this season. I’d missed the glorious opening in November; I was stuck working for the Christmas rush and the entire Olympics and at every other opportunity I had to contend with unpredictable El Niño weather. But it all came together on this latest storm. Work was quiet and the freezing level was low. I convinced my two buddies to ditch a couple days pay and chase a storm south of the border.

We roll out of Burnaby at 6am, determined to make the first chair. A friend at Simon Fraser University had been nice enough to let us crash on the floor of his student residence. Crossing the border at Abbotsford the US Border official eyes our vehicle filled with ski gear, photography equipment and 3 ski bums.

“Have a nice day up there guys”

That was easy. We grab some cheap gas in Sumas and start the drive up to the mountain. I notice an official looking white vehicle in the rear view mirror.

“Is that a cop behind us?”

Seriously? It appears that seemingly ‘cool’ US Immigration official put a tail on us. I tell Graeme to watch his speed and ignore the border patrol car. After all, we got nothin’ to hide. Our tail eventually gets bored and peels off a few miles out of Sumas.

Coming from Whistler there’s nothing more refreshing than seeing a mostly vacant car park on a powder day. There’s over 25cms of new up there! Welcome to Mt Baker, Washington.

On our first upload we see the Baker locals getting their fill of pow. After a lap on Chair 5 we follow the congregation to Chair 6 which has just opened. Hit after hit of rolling tree line terrain greets us as we descend from Canuck’s Deluxe into Sticky Wicket. Face shots. So many face shots...

Aj McNab slashing a windlip as the clouds roll in

There’s a break in the sky so we decide to go for a hike up the Shuksan Arm. In true Murphy’s Law fashion, as soon as we reach the top of the line the cloud rolls in and we’re scrambling to get any good light for photos. We end our first day satisfied with the skiing but short on quality shots. I’m optimistic about the next day’s forecast.

The St Paddy’s day celebration in the border town of Sumas is pretty low key. A few green hats and some cheery locals is about as crazy as it gets. After some American-sized dinner portions we retire to our rustic room at Sumas Mountain Lodge. Tomorrow is another fun filled day in the Cascade Range.

High rollers in Sumas, WA

The next day we wake up to bluebird skies. I’m ridiculously excited. As soon as we’re up we head to a cliff drop Graeme had scoped the day before off Chair 6. The resort is now mostly tracked so we head back up the Arm for some epic descents. For the entire hike I’m staring at the peak of Mt Baker, the peak of Mt Shuksan and all the unbelievable lines in between. I’ve never been to Alaska, but from what I’ve seen in the movies the terrain here in the Cascades comes pretty damn close.

We crack a 6 pack of Pabst tall boys on the way home to Whistler. Two days just wasn’t enough. I’m already waiting for the next storm to hit Mt Baker.

Graeme Bell sending it into the Canyon