The FIFTY - Line 19/50 - Mt. Baker - Crevasse Dodging and Storm Evading
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Mt. Baker is the third highest mountain in Washington state. The Watson Traverse is a tribute to the history of skiing in the Pacific Northwest and the 14 mile, 10k+ foot traverse was first accomplished by Dwight Watson in 1939. Watson completed the traverse in a single day and filmed the feat on a 16mm camera which film still exists today. In May of 2019, Cody Townsend and Bjarne Salen recreate this feat but face a rapidly melting glacier pocked marked with deadly crevasses, an impending storm and the modern day softness that makes them question the entire point of ski traverses.
This is Episode 19 and line 19 completed for The FIFTY, a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.
Mt. Baker is also known by Native Americans as: Lummi: Qwú’mə Kwəlshéːn; Nooksack: Kw’eq Smaenit or Kwelshán
GEAR Used Throughout The FIFTY:
Salomon QST 106: alnk.to/6bRkaUX
Salomon MTN Binding: alnk.to/dLdUm1C
Salomon Carbon S3 Poles: alnk.to/87VEXX0
Yeti Rambler 20oz: alnk.to/gzS237q
Swatch BioCeramic: bit.ly/3gQhCzo
Hyperlite Porter 5400: bit.ly/3XJVCHC
Smith Summit Helmet: alnk.to/ehYjxBD
Smith Wildcat: alnk.to/d3ySqO7
Smith Pursuit Glacier Glasses: alnk.to/7M6hfmL
Smith Squad Mag: alnk.to/hDmzW2F
LeBent Cody Pro Sock: alnk.to/cHJmtdU
LeBent Base Layer: alnk.to/58mMi9D
Arcade Capture Belt: alnk.to/4MxozAr
Mammut Carbon Probe 280: alnk.to/cHJmtfT
Mammut Alugator Pro Light: alnk.to/8iQpWSn
Mammut Barryvox S: alnk.to/2uDpzVA
Pomoca Free Pro 2.0: alnk.to/aeUKJS9
Thule Duffle: alnk.to/9IatNqU
Thule Ski Bag: alnk.to/gKMN24C
Hestra Falt Guide Glove:
Hestra Overmitt:
Hestra Merino Touchpoint Liners:
Honey Stinger Energy: bit.ly/3sPpX9g
Strainge Beast Kombucha: bit.ly/3sK6vLj
TinCup Whiskey: bit.ly/3FvbSpb
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Lovely. I got sick 8 years ago yesterday, and lost a back-country based life. But every time I watch a new episode I feel like I'm back out there with my friends. Love the hard work, humility, and humor. Thank you.
I'd be interested in seeing a quick walkthrough of how you put together a weather forecast as an "in-between-isode". What websites you use and what you're looking for.
Good call.
I saw one of the websites was spotwx.com. Really useful up here in BC
@@mikeyathome yup look up yr location then select NAM model for next 3.5days (short range = more accurate) & GFS model for long range
The wind/cloud forecast came from canadarasp.com, and the spot forecast came from spotwx.com. Cheers!
I had this image of you and Bjarne at 70, sitting in a cafe playing backgammon and reminiscing about all your great adventures. A good life.
Man, I sure hope that dream comes true one day.
Bollocks, man ! 70 ??? They will still be climbing and skiing better than you and me, putting up videos like "Septuagenarian back flips off cliff band, two weeks after hip replacement".
Bjarne looks like a dad teaching his kid how to ski @8:35
as usual, life stops immediately when i see a new episode appear. right on, as usual.
Much appreciated!
wow, did Baker like 35+ years ago; don't even recognize it on your beautiful vid. dat shit is sad. "one and done" is right! #protectourwinters head bowed from Durango with deep gratitude....my 12 year-old daughter and i really enjoy your series and benefit from it! keep crankin'!
Such a damn bummer to see the deterioration. I say a massive difference between when we skied it and only a few short years ago.
@@CodyTownsend ugh
Just got into you for the fifty project and i gotta say, touring is something ive always wanted to do. Cheers for the motivation, i got a touring set up and enrolled in avy course! Excited for the next phase of skiing!
Doing it the right way too! Nice Harrison. Enjoy the process, you got a lifetime of learning ahead of you.
Adam U... the only telemark skier that still gets photos published in ski magazines. Telemark lives!
This mountain hipster is helping me keep sane in this Coronavirus lockdown. I wanna be him!
Pretty views at least. Also POW
19 episodes in and I'm loving these
a friend tried to convince me to do this in October... glad i declined lol. looking forward to the shuksan episode though!
Me, too - big time!
Lots of mountain craft on show. Skiing down on a rope is not easy, then add in that you are threading your way through a crevasse field (ok, why else would you be roped up) but then again you guys can a ski bit! Can't get enough of your films, love from the Chamonix Massif
Never had all that tech back in my days. Hehe
I’m impressed with your focus on proper planning, safety, etc.. Having lost two friends in the mtns in the past three years I can attest to what happens when you don’t plan properly.
Loved this episode, shows a lot of the true ski mountaineering aspects. Also very educational on how to plan and deal with weather up there!
I still love this.
So pumped it’s back!
Hands down this is my favorite episode so far because the planning was 100% perfect, it was sketchy as hell and you guys absolutely crushed it.
What do you think this is looking like now after the insane PNW heat dome of 2021?
The glacier melting is very sad
Yeah man... It's been happening for decades but it's been super visible in the past 5-10 years... Really really sad
Good thing they traversed it while it could still be done!
The single most nerve inducing episode... i shat my pants when i saw you had to walk this much. Glad you made it out alive.
I love your attitude man no matter what you keep going
Took a crevasse rescue course on Baker long ago which entailed each person on roped pairs taking their turn to jump in, with the alternate person stopping the fall and effecting the rescue. The most memorable aspect was the environment inside the crevasse. The ground was visible over 100 feet down, with the width averaging ~7 feet. Despite a strong wind on the surface, it was dead calm inside. Even more surprising was the number of airborne insects and birds flying, occasionally chirping along the length of the crevasse. Its own, mostly vertical world, seemingly detached from the one just on the surface.
You're such an inspiration . . . !
Another great episode Cody. I did the Watson traverse 7 days before you may 7 2019. The park glacier was by far the scariest part, so many crevasse. I laughed when you said "it feels like we are done" but the bottom of the park glacier is not even half way. Our total trip was 30km and 3100m of vert. keep up the good work!
Basically did that on foot in 2012 over ~7 days as part of a class, except starting on the south side of Baker. My recollection of the trip was similar: crevasse minefield. Had the pleasure of falling part way through a snow bridge as well (luckily just post-holed it up to my butt). Camped on that high spot on the right around 9:00 in the video one night, was an amazing campsite. Baker, out of any peak, has given me more of those dark/ don't climb me vibes than anything else too. Every once and a while you run into one of those places. I'm not sure I will ever return to that summit haha. Was an amazing time though, will never forget it.
What ever occur you have cheerful attitude.
Gorgeous views wow,
Love the series Cody, only wish the episodes were longer...
HEY CODY !!!!!! KEEP THE GREAT SHIT COMING !!!!! these episodes are fucking AWESOME.
Beautiful. I spent 5 days in the Mt Baker area doing just hiking every single day.
Isn't there a hot spring in that area?
@@AuroraBoarder1 didn't see any when I was there.
@@silencenhikes6692 - as, shucks! Maybe you can find one next time you go. Check this out: www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/washington/mount-baker-hot-springs
I LOLed at the simul-skiing. Nice job boys!!
This was one of my favorites.
What are you listening too.
And thank you for this. It’s super inspiring
Love it! Great series of awesome lines...took a glacier classes on Baker back in the day, thanks for another great watch Cody
Awesome episode as usual! I wish I could ski with you guys sometime, that would be like a dream come true!
Great episode. Cool glacier, sad to see it in such bad shape. Can't wait for the next video man! Amazing!
rad ! great footiage, long mission. Nice rope trail shot
Hats off to you guys on that one! 🍺😄
I wish I could've seen ya when you were there. I pretty much live in glacier on the weekends year round
Glacier's gorgeous!
Thank you for another amazing episode full of action and adventure on the snow!!
Ahh good, I thought only we always have skiing like this 😅
I love the “Last of the Mohicans” -like music. Positive that is the definition of traverse 😂
I love these!! I watch and wonder what your process is for weather, gear and general logistics of the whole trip. Keep em coming!
1080p60!!! Yes!!!!!
Cody, your friends are too smart to do traverses with you and Bjarne, maybe time to add a few new Traverse Friends? :-). Enjoyed this episode, lots of interesting terrain/challenges and as always, love Bjarne's work. You guys made it look relatively easy (distance and objective dangers), but of course nothing easy about 14 miles and 10K verts. Most awesome! Thanks again. btw, I have skied with a rope and it's not easy but you guys made it look easy.
Thanks for doing that so I don't ever have to by accident.
It'd be a terrible accident to find yourself in.
Wigged on the Coleman, skipped the Park Headwall, and skied roped on the Park Glacier?? I wouldn’t be that stoked either…
Bjarne is the GOAT
At first, I thought Adam was a clean-cut dude with a fur-collar fleece, which seemed like a strange choice for a backcountry shredder. Then I realized Adam brings his own fur-collar to any piece of gear....which seems about right. More Beartooth shredding, please.
Skimming through this with the volume down. At Baker then skiing into Heather Meadows and Im like, wtf kind of hacked up edit is this? Watson Traverse? Oh damn... big day
About time bro. Been hanging for this next one 👌🏽💥✊🏽 yew thanks.
Very cool!
should have gone to the E-Lodge afterwards! Mt Shuksan is the prettiest mountain hiding in the back of lots of the shots, but was shy on your sketchy trav.
Great job as usual Cody :)
Not many people know but Mt Baker is still an active volcano, same chain as mt rainier, st helen etc
If Momma Hood has taught me anything, the PNW is super unpredictable and glaciers are scary as shit
Agreed. On my first summit of Hood our party had to rescue a solo climber from the bergschrund. That was quite the reality check. Mighty Wy'east can seem mellow at times and can lull you into a false sense of security, but as with all of the Cascades, things change rapidly and can get real in a hurry
Bingeing the series now I have found it and absolutely amazing feat. What was the result of dont snore & dont fart? Assuming there were no winners in a confined space :)
More gold
It’s sad and worrisome to hear increasingly of glaciers melting and mountains ‘ declining’. It makes this method of walking ,lowering carbon footprint, all the more significant and impressive.
You're a righteous Dude Cody- you don't cut corners assessing risk, get group consensus on decisions underway and you're not too proud to turn back when you smell the Reaper over your shoulder- all the while keeping your wits and sense of humor. Way to set the example for this new generation that seems to have missed the part about leave no trace. Not that I'm getting tired of seeing toilet paper on a glacier where it's otherwise pristine nature and the like, but if I'd be so bold as to humbly ask if maybe you could touch on this issue a bit in the future in some of your vids? Keep up the good work, be safe and rip it up Man!
The thought of having to ski down that glacier with those many crevasses, in a white out, is definitely puckering my sphincter and tingling my jooblies. Is this normal ?
Pure joy at 11:05, haha
Thankful we weren't dead, then we walked for the next six miles!
Heck yes! Stoked you guys did the Watson. Its a Washington classic! Hey Cody question: All of us locals know and see the glaciers melting rapidly, but can you elaborate a little on what you mean by rapidly deteriorating? You mean it was just super broken? I'll admit that I haven't seen that shrund at the base of the Park Glacier Headwall fill in since 2011!
By rapidly deteriorating I mean the effects caused by melting, essentially more crevasses, more broken sections of glacier and less ability for bridging in the winter, thereby making it harder and harder to navigate.
Have worked on Rainbow Glacier every year for the last 37 years, it meets Mazama Glacier at the saddle you reach after leaving Park Glacier. There are regions where crevassing has diminished, and other areas where crevasses are more permanently open changing our routes. We measure crevasse depths as part of our annual survey.
sick.
Went up this mountain twice on the Easton glacier. Seems like you guys went up the Coleman-deming route?
I did this tour on May 30, 2019, just a few weeks after you. In another video you do the Spearhead Traverse, which I have not done but would like to do. How would you compare the two tours in difficulty? Duration? Sketchy sections (like the Park glacier crevasses you note)? Thanks!
Does anybody know the weather service software on 1:57?
canadarasp.com
Petar Panayotov Ron burgundy
So you didnt go for the FKT on this one? :)
Cody looking like he's wearing Gucci with that belt ahaha!
It is a "Gucci" belt from Arcade Belts.
@@CodyTownsend looking very cool :))
Haha 1 and done xD. Peace from Alaska 🤙
haha, are we there yet?
Do you find those glasses dont fog? I have the Smith Ruckus and they get foggy.. Assume those are the wildcats?
Yeah they're the Wildcats and so far, they're the best touring glasses I've ever used. They're not as tight to your face like most biking glasses are so they ventilate well to not fog.
What do you think of the Garmin in reach mini? I’ve heard mixed reviews but I see you had one with you
Best series on UA-cam like this if I’m wrong
Totally agree. Love them.
I think you mean, "like this if I'm right..."
@@CodyTownsend Did you win amy awards for thos series?
@@CodyTownsend Your right man...You ever make your way through winterpark?
What tool is that for cloud cover?
When you coming back to Canada to do Columbia and Robson!?
When the mountains are ready is when I'll be back.
As someone who's ridden Baker a couple times I have to wonder how anyone would call it a classic let a lone a top 50 classic... It's decent training in a pretty spot and sometimes the snow is incredible. But mostly it's flat and a bit of yawner
Completely agree with ya. It probably has been my least favorite line of the project
@@CodyTownsend It's impressive that you keep hitting all the routes in this book no matter how good or not-so-awesome they may be. 😀 whatta project! Riding Mt. Stimson in GNP was an exercise in true GRIT. I've approached it from Nyack Creek via the trail pulling sleds. Longer than Coal Creek but much nicer skiing. The NW face is superb riding.
Can you post the gear/kit you bring on these ascents?
Hey Cody, you mentioned at Sphinx that you can't handle any amount of wheat in food, why are you drinking beer? Like, I know celiac is only about gluten, but, well, when you hear pseudo-gunshots on a glacier, which way do you head?
The Rad Fems Sufferfest, the beer I drink, is gluten free.
Hey Cody, does your camper stay 100% water tight? Super interested in that setup, but I just don't see how it would stay dry.
Especially at the bed rails.
Traverse is french for 'if it were easy, it would be called slednecking'
As someone that has done a lot of walking and a lot of sled necking...they're both equally tiring but in totally different ways.
@@CodyTownsend Tiring? oh I thought sickbirds like you & Bjarne just flew over the terrain.
ua-cam.com/video/NZNKkt4e4hY/v-deo.html
Could you please explain in detail what you are doing with the two gps units at 4:00 in case you are required to navigate in a whiteout?
Just setting a detail oriented track that follows my every move so if I get stuck in a white out on a glacier and lose my skin track to snow and wind, I can follow the track on the GPS back out to safety.
@@CodyTownsend Thanks for the reply. Does that absolutely require two gps units? Would it be possible with only a Garmin Inreach mini for example?
bernard larose Always good to have backups. But you could do it with a single unit. Ive used my Inreach but don't know if the mini has the capability (also if you're in thick clouds it will be difficult to get a location anyways...)
The meh traverse :p good episode
Can you do a video of your truck? It looks awesome and I would love to know more about it
Got one coming for January
A green circle with death exposure. Party
Thanks for the nice view! Any chance for cold finger? Try this weather proof grip cover from ssfsports.co.kr
felt "scary" and "dangerous" because CASCADES = SCARY AND DANGEROUS
Do you take the brakes of for the uphill? because in the end and the beginning there were brakes on your ski but not while you were skinning up. 4:13 4:41
I am pretty sure Cody does mount brakes in his mtn 95, it is Bjarne the one who doesn't
Murtzi A secas oh just saw that the shoes are different too
@@johannwinkler2183 that's it
Yeah, I like brakes on my skis for various reasons, so they were definitely on there the whole time.
All these lines are nothing if you pizza
These guys probably not going to do well as motivational speakers.
Looked positively dreadful.
....And you dragged all that heavy-ass gear around for just "meh" skiing. Might have actually been fun on a lighter set up. You really should go full rando again for the traverses. Way more entertaining.
lease game weak ong bruh who even are you HAHAhAHAHA