A Personal Welcome to 'Climbing the Seven Summits' Mt. Baker Expedition from Mike Hamill
Mt. Baker is one of the gems of U.S. Mountaineering. From the hike in through classic PNW forests, to beautiful views from camp, to a solid and engaging climb up the Easton Glacier, Baker provides a well rounded and memorable trip packed into just a few days.
It is a perfect place for new climbers to start and experienced climbers to refresh skills and expand their abilities. From camp we are able to quickly access a variety of terrain choices to maximize training with minimal wasted travel time.
Even though Baker doesn’t require a ton of technical skill to climb, you will need excellent physical fitness is going to help you enjoy and get the most out of the trip. I find most climbers underestimate the effort of summit day, wIth 5000 feet of elevation gain from camp to the summit, Baker asks a lot from your body. The best advice I have is to train hard, train right, and start training at least 3 months before your climb.
To help you on your Mt. Baker Journey here are a few pieces of wisdom I’ve given clients over the years (and use myself!) that have helped them be successful. I hope these tips will help you too!
Best Wishes,
Mike
- Follow the packing list carefully and fully, but if you are buying new gear spend the extra money for a lightweight model of whatever item you’re purchasing. Over time this will let you replace any old heavy gear with lighter items and reduce your pack weight on every trip.
- Pay close attention to the simple stuff your guide is teaching on day 1 like scuff step, rest step and pacing. These basic principles can cut your climbing effort almost in half, even if you are an experienced hiker you will benefit from these techniques.
- Dial in your packing systems, especially for your small items like sunglasses, snacks, toiletries, sunscreen etc. Breaks will be short on the mountain, maximum 15 minutes, finding your small essentials quickly every break by packing them in the same spot every time will make your whole climb less stressful. Systems are important!
- Don’t underestimate the cold on summit day. Even in the height of summer with a perfect forecast the upper mountain of Baker can be cold and breezy at 4 a.m. Bring winter weight gloves and a warm parka, don’t skimp on these critical layers thinking it’s just a summer climb.
- When you get tired, focus on your feet. If there is one thing that makes travel in the mountains safer and easier, it’s good footwork. The more tired you are the more you should be focusing on perfect rest step technique and staying in balance.