Mt. Baker Summit

This summer I had the opportunity to summit Mt. Baker! I had never really planned on doing anything like that, but my dad and his scouts were planning a trip and he invited Devin and me to go along. It was so great, I really want to do it again! Starting off we had a beautiful hike up to base camp. It was a warm day though, and we were all over dressed. It was hard with our heavy packs, but we took it slow so we would have enough energy for the summit.

 

On our way up - the gang taking a break.



 

Beautiful views on our way up

 

 

With Dad and Devin at the lower base camp.

 

 

 

After enjoying a nice break and dinner, and refilling our water bottles, it was time to head to the upper camp - up this hill!

 

 

I thought this hill was probably the most difficult part of the summit It took probably an hour and a half to two hours. We still had our heavy packs on, and we didn't put on our crampons yet. Luckily, my dad bribed a couple of young men who were staying at the lower base camp to carry our packs up (just mine and his). I walked in the front and really tried to dig my boots into the hill to make stairs so it would be easier for everyone who followed.

 

There were many crevasses along the way.

 

 

When we finally made it to the top, we got right to work setting up camp. Our goal was to get to bed as early as possible since we had to get a early (1 am start) the next morning.

This was our view from base camp.

 

 That night as we were falling asleep, we had beautiful views of the sunset.

 

 

 

I was so comfortable that night, but I shared my tent with Devin and he took forever to get to bed! He was so noisy and every time I was about to fall asleep he would get up. He was way too warm and couldn't get comfortable. I'm not sure if I even fell asleep or not, but before we knew it, it was time to get up. We had to get into our gear, pack our day packs, and get into our rope teams. By the time everyone was situated and ready to go it was around 2:30 am. I was in a rope team with Dad and Devin. We took up the rear and followed Eric's team of Andre and Drew.

 

 

It was pretty neat looking ahead and just seeing everyone's headlamps lined up in a row up the mountain. The stars were beautiful, and back behind us, off in the distance, we could make out some city lights. It was beautiful and so peaceful. As it began to get light, we saw more beautiful mountain views. It was so neat to look around and be surrounded by mountain peaks. These pictures do not do the views justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devin, Eric and I at the summit.

 

Unfortunately, a couple of the boys got high altitude sickness and couldn't make it to the summit. My dad had to take them back to base camp so he wasn't able to make the summit. I want to do this again so he can! Eric joined Devin and my rope team, so it was fun for the three of us to be together. The rope team ahead of us had a boy who was REALLY struggling, and they went really slow. It took us forever to make the final climb, I think we were stopped far more than we were going. By the time we got to the top, it was so foggy you couldn't see more than a few feet ahead of you - so no view from the top :(

 

It rained pretty hard on the way down, and it got really cold. It had been so warm the day before and when we started at 1 am that most of us left a few layers behind we wished we had! I forgot my warm gloves and was so glad a kind boy shared his with me. Scouts are awesome! When we got back, my dad was waiting for us with hot meals! It was so nice! Since it was still pouring rain, we decided to pack up camp and head back. With our tents and everything in our packs soaking wet, our packs were much heavier going back than when we had come. We were all tired and wet, and the walk back was much quieter than when we had come. But all in all it was a great trip and I really want to do it again!

...Only next time I want Dennis to come too, and I want to bring my skis and ski down!