Mt Baker Climb and Why Growlers Insist On Night Pattern Work at 11 PM

[ChuckMK23]

Just back from completing the Mountaineering and Alpinism I Course at American Alpine Instituit out of Bellingham, WA - including a 5 day climb of Mt Baker. Highly recommend AAI as an organization - phenomenal instruction and staff. It is all about the gear - so for a gear queer head like me it was ideal. Probably the most physically demanding thing I have done in my life btw.

http://www.alpineinstitute.com/catalog/alpinism-1-introduction-to-mountaineering/

Camped a night on Whidbey - to the fucking Growler crews who insist on doing night pattern work at 11 PM, thank you for the restful sleep

Waved daily to the boys flying Whidbey SAR - your orange door Sierra's were a welcome sight!

 

[Renegade One]

Ah…you've turned NIMBY.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Ah…you've turned NIMBY.

Mt Baker is indeed "Leave No Trace" - literally had to downclimb with 7 pounds of my own fecal matter in mylar bags at the bottom of my pack.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Ah…you've turned NIMBY.

Oh and no, not NIMBY, my comment to the Growler guys out there was tongue-in-cheek. I reminded my group that it was "the sound of freedom" - I slept just fine

Annotated sign from the park - clearly others agree

 

[Flash]

...Camped a night on Whidbey - to the fucking Growler crews who insist on doing night pattern work at 11 PM, thank you for the restful sleep

The sun sets so late up there that is prime time for night FCLP's, they go as late as 0200-0300 some nights.

 

[Jim123]

7 pounds of my own fecal matter in mylar bags at the bottom of my pack.

Cool! Water balloons!!

 

[Gatordev]

to the fucking Growler crews who insist on doing night pattern work at 11 PM, thank you for the restful sleep

As long as it's not a Blue Angel conducting an emergency divert at 2230. That's just rude.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Mt Baker is indeed "Leave No Trace" - literally had to downclimb with 7 pounds of my own fecal matter in mylar bags at the bottom of my pack.
View attachment 16067

But you're not doing a manly pose, showing your watch and giving a big thumbs up while wearing appropriate logo attire...

Dude....I would have just kicked a bunch of snow over it and said I put it in the bag....that shit (literally) is biodegradable....

 

[Flash]

....that shit (literally) is biodegradable....

At that altitude and temperature, apparently not.

 

[ChuckMK23]

This is what we used - remarkably easy and sanitary

http://biffybag.com/biffy-bag.htm

 

[HAL Pilot]

At that altitude and temperature, apparently not.

At 10,700' versus 29,000', I don't think Mt. Baker would have that problem.

 

[ChuckMK23]

At 10,700' versus 29,000', I don't think Mt. Baker would have that problem.

Probably not - but there are a *lot* of people on Baker, despite its remoteness. I would say a few thousand people climb and many many more simply camp on the beauty of the glacier. I could see it being a problem if people didn't practice Leave No Trace.

I was skeptical too at first. But the feeling of drinking fresh glacier melt, without fear, is pretty awesome! I was also disappointed that the weight of the food I packed in more or less equaled the poo I packed out. Cruel joke there!

 

[Flash]

At 10,700' versus 29,000', I don't think Mt. Baker would have that problem.

If you read further into the article other mountains much lower than Everest have had to institute something to prevent littering, including human waste, on the mountain. I imagine with Baker being pretty popular and accessible they could have a similar problem if not vigilant.

 

[HAL Pilot]

But the feeling of drinking fresh glacier melt, without fear, is pretty awesome!

So no one pees in the snow? If they're well hydrated, you'd never know...

 

[sickboy]

I did the same course and climb last summer. Great mountain and great organization. I try to get up that way semi regularly, let me know if you want a climbing partner. They're hard to find in Jax.