{"id":4252,"date":"2011-08-05T09:10:17","date_gmt":"2011-08-05T17:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mountainguides.com\/wordpress\/?p=4252"},"modified":"2011-08-05T09:11:08","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T17:11:08","slug":"4252","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mountainguides.com\/wordpress\/2011\/08\/05\/baker\/4252\/","title":{"rendered":"Mt. Baker Success Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

August 5, 2011<\/p>\n

IMG client Katie Kaluza chimes in with her recent Mt. Baker experience with IMG…<\/em><\/p>\n

“When I signed up to climb Mt Rainer with IMG this past spring, I had no expectations.\u00c2\u00a0 The whole idea started and ended over beers in Mexico.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Without much research my friend Trish and I decided it was something we just had to do and sent in our forms once back in the states!\u00c2\u00a0 Once we realized what we actually committed ourselves to, we were scared! With training, the right gear, great weather and a super fun group we had a ball, one of the best times ever.\u00c2\u00a0 We failed to summit but either way, I was hooked. While the guides did an excellent job of giving us tips, pointers, and showing us the proper technique for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153blue bagging\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, the most important thing I learned on Rainier is that I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know anything at all. Which brings me to Mt Baker.<\/p>\n

I decided for my next climb I needed some serious training so I would not be the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dope on a rope\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as teammate Joe named us.\u00c2\u00a0 One afternoon, while hard at work surfing the IMG website I saw they had a new climb! A three day Baker trip that included crevasse rescue, rope skills, all while getting the chance to summit.\u00c2\u00a0 I was in! SOLD! Sent in my form and showed up on a beautiful Friday morning in late July.<\/p>\n

We met at the ranger stating in Sedro Woolley. After a quick gear check, assignment of group food\/gear, several coats of sunscreen we were off.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Again, I was blessed with a wonderful, kind and fun team, including one of the same guides from Rainer, Dustin! Our route was to be the Easton glacier. We made our way across a stream, over rocks, through the trees and came out at Schreiber\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Meadow, looking up at the summit, breathtaking.\u00c2\u00a0 We continued up the railroad grade and came to rest at 6500ft, set up camp and started dinner (Which was delicious)! Who knew mac and cheese with sausage and peas would be such a great combo, a mountain delight. Maybe we were just hungry.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Ty and Dustin decided that due to weather, we would summit the following day.\u00c2\u00a0 Before bed we went over rope travel, walking with crampons, and various other glacier travel skills.