GCC GRADUATION CLIMB

MOUNT BAKER / COLEMAN DEMING

GETTING THERE

From I-5 just north of Bellingham, drive east on SR 542 (Sunset Highway) to 1 mi east of Glacier. Turn right (south) on Glacier Creek Road and continue appx 8 mi to Heliotrope Trailhead - on the left (3,700 ft).

ASCENT / APPROACH ROUTE

This route gains 7000 ft in a distance of 5.5 mi, climbing the moderate Coleman Glacier, the top of the Deming Glacier, and Roman Wall before reaching the flat summit plateau. Views from camp and summit are spectacular.

Hike up Heliotrope Ridge Trail and follow the climbers' trail beyond and up a steep ridge to moraine at the edge of the glacier. Proceed south, ascending to ~7,000 ft to base camp situated along the ridge or at the base of the Black Buttes.

Ascending from base camp, proceed south and climb gradually southeast toward the Black Buttes. Skirt along the Black Buttes, keeping far enough away to avoid avalanches or rockfall, then go easterly to the saddle between the base of the Roman Wall (on the main mountain) and the Black Buttes (~9,200 ft at the saddle). From the saddle, ascend the rocky ridge northeast keeping right of the Roman Wall. Ascend steep snow past the Roman Wall to the large summit plateau. The summit is at the far east-northeast side.

Time: 4-5 hrs TH to camp, 6-9 hrs camp to summit

https://www.summitpost.org/coleman-deming-glaciers/155420

TRIP PROFILE

TH – HELIOTROPE RIDGE – 3700’

CAMP – BLACK BUTTES – 7000’

MT BAKER SUMMIT – 10,778’

TRAILHEAD TO CAMP

TIME – 4-5 HRS

ELEVATION GAIN – 3,300’

CAMP TO SUMMIT

TIME – 6-9 HRS

ELEVATION GAIN – 3,778’

SUMMIT TO CAMP – 2-3 HRS

CAMP TO TH – 2-3 HRS

CAMP TO TH – 2-3 HRS

KEEP CLIMBING MOUNTAINS & DON'T SLIP!!