Feb 2008- View from Chair 5; "Gabl's" run with White Salmon Base area to the North
Need I say more?
Sadly, the truth is I have to work. This is clearly a crime against ride-manity, a prejudice against my people! If I was mayor, opening day at Baker would be eligible for a holiday or at least a sick day. Unfortunately, my current employer is not buying that I am coming down with the “28-degree and 16 inches of new” flu. Tomorrow, I will be at work. However, I have a number of friends heading up and am hoping to snag some pics of opening day. I will post them as they come in.
For those of you lucky shredders that are hitting the hill in the morning, you can look forward to cooler temps and tastey turns. This last storm brought in piles of PNW powder and what promises to be an outstanding opening day. The Ski area has advised that it is still pre-season conditions and has recommended that you stay on groomed trails.
Check out the latest updates by going to http://www.mtbaker.us/ You can also check the snow report, updated twice a day, by calling (360) 671-0211. Personally, I have it on speed dial.
Pre-Season Jonesin’ is over….See you on the hill!
Denise and Tessa- Catchin' beer-thirty at White Salmon Base- Feb 08
The aftermath of our annual Halloween bash is never a pretty sight to see. It must have been the fullish moon.
Black feathers littered our living room floor, leaving the impression that a large crow had, at some point in the evening, been imploded. I dared to go out to the backyard and determined from the hay amassing the patio that the same fate had befallen some poor scarecrow . . . that, and someone sloshed red wine all over the cupboards and fridge. People.
But who can stay in and clean house, when the weather is so damn brilliant? It’s hard to believe that it’s already November, with the sky so blue bird and beckoning. I HAD to go and play. The truth is I got a bad case of the Pre-Season Jonesin’. The air just smelled like snow, and all I wanted was some time with my lover: Mt. Baker. She and I have been carrying on our torrid love-affair, since I first strapped on skis in 1979. Yes; on a day like this, work and responsibilities should be cast to the wind and an immediate Baker infusion find its way to the top of the priority list.
We parked at the lower lodge gate and made our way up the cat track to Chair 5. The mountain-side popped with pre-season, fall color, and trace snowfall had left a crust of sparkling ice on the trail. We heard grouse calls and watched ravens soar as we climbed the bare ski runs up to the top of Chair 7.
After sharing a chairlift seat and some local-grown greens, Howie and I took in fat views of Shuksan and Baker and picked out lines on the surrounding mountains. Mostly, we just shared some pre-season jonesin’.
- Howard and Anna at Boundary Bay Brewery
We chose Boundary Bay Brewery a lot, when we’re looking for a place to hook up with friends.
The simple fact that I can easily ride my bike along the waterfront via the Interurban Trail and be practically spit out on Boundary Bay’s doormat where the trail ends makes this downtown hotspot a virtual no-brainer for me.
Well-know for its diverse events and well-loved for its hoppy, Pacific NW-style beers, Boundary Bay Brewery boasts a packed house on nearly any given night. Patrons are often treated to music from local artists, in addition to family-friendly events in the garden, hula-hooping nights (all-ages) and outdoor cinema in the summer. To view up coming events, go to: http://www.bbaybrewery.com/events.php
We popped in there Tuesday night, to visit with one of the kids, Anna. Being the sassy and adventurous consumer she is she opted for one of Boundary’s newer brews: Black IPA. This pint packs a punch. Sweeter than the regular IPA, the Black IPA wasn’t ashamed to let you know it was still loaded with hops…and wretchedly tasty. Way to go brew-guys!
I settled into the groove of Boundary with my usual IPA and stole sips of Howard’s Barley Wine. Boundary’s walls are adorned with large white sails and local artists’ displays. When the sun goes down, Boundary’s minimalist lighting reflects off the sail cloth creating this nice, cozy, warm glow. However, this IS a packed bar with awesome acoustics designed for showcasing musical events…so, it is far from serene and probably a bad choice for a first date. It is noisy and bustling, but relaxing and fun at the same time.
A word on the food: it’s really pretty good! In the tradition of bistro meets brewery, Boundary offers a variety of moderately-priced, upscale pub-fare. Some of my favorite menu items are the savory Yam Alechiladas, Spinach Salad with goat cheese medallions and candied pecans, fresh Fish Tacos, and their award-winning Sweet and Spicy Red Pepper Chicken soup. Oh, and the Mac ‘n’ Cheese is definitely not just for kids. Locals head to Boundary Bay after work for smoking Happy Hour deals on food, which probably explains why I can hardly get a table on a Friday night at 5pm!
Boundary’s bar area
Howie looking out to the San Juan Islands
Fall has arrived, and the rich Pacific Northwest colors are explosive in our neck of the woods. If I had to choose my favorite thing about living in Bellingham, it would be the year-round abundance of accessible trail systems. Living in Fairhaven, the Southside of Bellingham, locates us within a ten minute walk to a vast trail system, including the Chuckanut Mountains. Trailheads leading to day-long hikes and backpacking can also be found by making the 10-minute drive out HWY 11 (Chuckanut Drive).
Yesterday, my husband and I set out into the crisp October morning with our sights set on one of our favorite local hikes: Oyster Dome. Oyster Dome is accessible from multiple points in the area, including the backside of Blanchard Mountain. Our usual point of entry is the westerly approach, just off Chuckanut Drive. Parking can usually be found on the shoulder of the road, just south of the Oyster Bar Restaurant.
The trail begins by following the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) up a few switchbacks, helping you gain elevation rapidly. After about 15 minutes of climbing, there is a break in the trees, providing your first glimpses of the surrounding bay. A bench was installed at one clearing some years ago. This makes for a nice rest-point and photo opportunities. After about a mile and some change, the trail splits. Follow the trail to the right to watch the activity at the Hang-glider’s Launch or stay to the left and continue up to the Oyster Dome.
While there are a few lovely breaks in the climb, it becomes quickly apparent that this trail is not messing around. Although the mileage on this trip is only a little more than 3 miles to the top, elevation rises from160 feet to the high point of 2,025 feet. It is pretty much an “up” trail, requiring occasional hand-holds and ass-hauling. My ‘favorite’ (insert sarcastic tone) point is a little over the halfway-mark, where hikers are greeted by a steep section of trail made up of sharp rocks and a massive tree root system. Hands as well as feet are generally necessary. The last half mile of this trail can be nothing short of treacherous when wet or icy conditions are present.
However, when you get to the top, all suffering is quickly forgotten. The Dome is a large cliff outcropping that juts out to the West and shows off some of Washington’s finest features. On a clear day, Oyster Domers are treated to big views of the San Juan Islands, the Skagit Flats and can catch glimpses of the Olympic Mountains and neighboring Canadian ranges. As far as in-town trails go, Oyster Dome boasts possibly the best overall views for the area.
One of the great things about Bellingham is that it lies between two fantastic metropolitan cities: Vancouver, BC and Seattle, WA. Last weekend we chose Seattle, for our 1st anniversary get-away. The drive takes a mere hour and twenty minutes as long as you’re on I-5 before Seattle traffic picks up. We packed a lot in this weekend, so I’ll be writing about our trip in installments.
We left Bellingham at 9:30am, with the hope of making it to the International District in time to share dim sum with friends at 11am. For those of you that are unfamiliar with dim sum, I can’t recommend trying it enough. We can thank the Cantonese for this eggs and bacon alternative. For our dim sum, we went to The Jade Garden on the corner of King and 7th. The Jade Garden is one of Seattle best kept secrets. Well . . . not “best kept” anymore, as both Seattle magazine and The Seattle Weekly have recently written rave reviews about this unique gem of a breakfast spot.
After a half-hour wait with a throng of other hungry Seattlites, we were seated at an enormous round table and immediately served. The food comes hot and fast. Bamboo steam pots were rapidly thrust at our table, while wait-staff scurried around, cleared tables for new customers and brought fresh pots of tea to tables. I didn’t even bother trying to figure out what most of it was, opting instead for a lot of hand gestures and rigorous head nodding.
Soon, our super-sized lazy-susan was filled with steamed pork buns, custards, marinated clams, bone-in pork ribs, shrimp rolls and a few indefinable but yummy dishes. EVERYTHING was delicious. At the end, the five of us were stuffed to the gills and walked out with a total-table bill of a little over $40. This was a great place to start our visit to Seattle.
The only disappointing note for my friend Billy Bob was that they neither served nor understood what ‘vodka’ meant (see below for look of shock and dismay). Not to worry, we found a cocktail right down the street.
What? No Vodka?
Welcome to snowboardbaker.com! Mt. Baker Ski area is located 56 miles east of Bellingham, WA, on State Highway 542.
Locally dubbed, “The City of Subdued Excitement,” Bellingham offers an array of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. Bellingham Bay, portal to the San Juan Islands and home to the Alaska Ferry, provides endless opportunities for sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, and canoeing. Follow the sandstone and Madrona lined coast via boat to discover hidden coves and private picnic sites or head out on the Washington State Ferries on your bike to explore island destinations!
To the east is dazzling, snow-covered Mt. Baker, presiding over our dense timber lands, spectacular biking, hiking, walking trails, and numerous parks. Mt. Baker is best-known for its world-record snowfall of 1,140 inches, during the 1998-99 season. Each year, local boarders and skiers kick off the season in October with a film festival and pre-winter party at the Wild Buffalo House of Music http://wildbuffalo.net/.
Fall has hit, which is my favorite time to backpack. Last weekend, a small group of us headed up Skyline Divide. This popular trail is part of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and offers unbelievable views and rewarding camping opportunities, in just 3 short miles. Warning: Upon breaking through the trees into these high alpine meadows, many a hiker has had the urge to burst forth, Julie-Andrews-style, with their own rendition of “The Hills are Alive.” It is positively breath-taking . . . every time (the views, not the singing).
We set up camp on the northern part of the ridge and made merry with vodka and lemon Crystal Light. I can’t recommend this combination enough, for a light-weight solution to cocktail hour. As we ate dinner, we feasted on views of Mt. Shuksan and Table Mountain and planned ski trips for the upcoming season.
After the winds picked up and the sun dipped below the horizon, it got ridiculously cold. The ridge has sparse trees which offer minimal protection from the bone-chilling winds from the North. I opted for my sleeping bag and a hat, around 7pm. In the morning, ice crystals jutted from the trail, indicating temperatures had dropped below freezing in the night.
To find it, drive Hwy 542, just past the town of Glacier, to Glacier Creek Road. This trial requires a backcountry parking pass, so be sure to stop at the ranger station in Glacier and obtain one. Getting a ticket sucks, after having a great day on the mountain.
