Deepest Opening Day in Mt. Baker History!

November 12, 2009 Mt. Baker opened up with a 67" base and over 7 feet of new snow in the past week.  This isn't the first time a storm has slammed the PNW and taken hippies and dogs alike by surprise.  3 years ago we had "Snow-vember" and everybody in the industry flocked to Baker to ski early season pow and get major film segments on lock down.  Living in Bellingham for the past 6 years has given me the oppurtunity to never miss out on these early season storm cycles.  Going from railing fireroads and single track on my bike to launching pillows and cliffs and skiing neck deep pow has never been a hard transition.  Year after year we wait, some years more, some less but it always comes in right on time.  When it starts snowing it's on, and if you aren't ready, or not here you don't get it. 

In the spirit of Mt. Baker this past Opening day was "the best opening day ever!", quoted one local. Another, "best day in 20 years", "Biggest, deepest snowpack in the history of Mt. Baker."  And it is only November 12.  As we pulled into the parking lot at 7:00 AM the sun was rising over Mt. Shuksan and it was a bluebird pow day, the lifts were blanketed in 24" in the last 48.  Being really, really early never hurts, earning us first chair ahead of the crowds. 

"We had to do a lot of scrambling, opening day with a mid-season snow-pack. We sort of got caught with our pants down."  This coming from Aaron Wilson pro patroller for the past 7 years.  "It is pretty unreal, it's never happened before." 

From my end patrol had things dialed from proper rope lines to checking beacons at backcountry gates.  I have always appreciated the hard work Baker patrol does, without them we wouldn't be able to ski half of the terrain that we do on a daily basis.  Early morning control work, long days, and a commitement to being wet they always come through with powder grins as they "test slopes" and "ski cut" areas.

In classic opening day fashion I lost everyone I was riding with and spun laps on my favorite lines.  I hooked up with Eli Lee and Paul Kimbrough to put down the first lines on the "Beast" area.  As ski friends go, there doesnt have to be much in common, you don't even have to talk, actions speak the loudest.  Pounds, High fives, and hugs were given as we proceded to stop thinking, start living again and start skiing.  A good friend proclaimed at the end of the day "Happy Winter!" and I joined him in celebrating with a beer and a smile, it's back!