The Baker lift circuit stretches out over two peaks within spitting distance of Mount Shuksan and Mount Baker. Chairs 1, 2, 3 and 6 provide access to the 5,000-foot Panorama Dome, while 4, 5, 7, and 8 service the 5,540-foot Shuksan Arm. Baker operates two major parking lots, each servicing one of the two peaks. From each lot, the top is just two chair rides away. Shifting from one peak to the next is just a couple of chair lifts as well.
While the snow tends to be heavy, it is Baker's terrain that makes the area. In-bounds from the top of Panorama Dome and Chairs 1 and 6, there are numerous black diamond runs like Sticky Wicket, The Chute, and Razorhone Canyon. The Chute begins in an open powder field and closes on a narrow gash through the rocks. Brave or foolhardy snowriders straight run it, while others make 10 crisp, precise turns since it's just wide enough for a pair of skis.
Sticky Wicket, accessible from Chair 6, is a local favorite. From the top, hang a left off the lift and take the third trail to the right off Canuck's Deluxe. Sticky drops through an old growth forest of towering cedar and Douglas fir trees perfectly spaced for powder skiing. Skiers and boarders have to react quickly, as the terrain is replete with quick drops, gullies, and snow-covered logs.
Sticky Wicket drops into the lower portion of Razorhone Canyon. Most snowriders prefer to run the length of the canyon by entering it from the top of Chair Six. One of the more adventurous and unique ski runs in the Northwest can be found on Razorhone. It begins in a wide-open powder bowl, then closes in a steep, narrow canyon with 100-foot rock walls for about three-quarters of a mile. Razorhone gets a black-diamond rating because there's no chance to bail out once inside. Skiers and boarders must make precise turns and be aware of other riders.
Baker has all the challenging terrain an expert would expect, but there are also enough trails to keep novices and intermediates happy as well. From the top of both peaks there is an easy way down. Guests who can link wedge turns can tour the top of the mountain. Off the peak of Panorama Dome, accessible from Chair 6 or 1, the Blueberry Cat Track and Austin deposit skiers and boarders at the base lodge after 1,500 feet of vertical of smooth corduroy. Chairs 2 and 3 begin at the Heather Meadows Day Lodge and provide access to at least 10 different trails that are always groomed. With nearly flat terrain, Heather Meadows is the best area for novice snowriders who are still learning to stop and turn.
More adventurous intermediates will enjoy the Shuksan Arm - Baker's intermediate area. Guests reach the top by taking Chairs 8, 4, and 5. Easy Money and White Salmon are wide-open cruisers with rolling terrain, cat tracks, and short steep pitches. The Oh Zone provides stunning views of Mount Shuksan and the peaks just beyond the Canadian Border, not to mention the top-of-the-world view back toward the ski area.
Ski & Snowboard America: Pacific NW & B.C.
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