[Jim Dockery]

We found pretty much perfect snow conditions (kept cool by a nice breeze) for mid July. We camped at the trail head and got up at 4. Scott Paul trail was easy to follow, we started skinning on the ridge.

Gaining ridge

route generally follows left skyline

Squak glacier is smooth and easy to avoid all big cracks - the largest has a full depth plug very safe to cross. A bit icy on the summit ridge. Get after it if you want some sweet mid summer corn!

Skinning Squak Glacier

Summit Sherman Peak

Rainier floats above Mt. Pilchuck

It was my first time up Sherman and I loved the view of Baker's Crater.

Mt. Baker and crater

Snow was perfect just below the top, got a bit grabby from 8,000-6000, then firmer fun bumps down the ridge and into the trees.

Eric on icy summit ridge

two ways to negotiate blowdown

[Mtn Man]

Sweet! This is definitely on my radar. How long was the hike before hitting snow? B)

[Jim Dockery]

A couple easy miles - this is one of the best bang for the buck ski routes in the state.

[NikonHiker]

Great series! I'm going to have to do Baker again if only because the last time around visibility was pretty much zero the entire last half of the trip.

[DIYSteve]

Cool Just you and Eric? How did it smell up there?

[Jim Dockery]

Steve, don't you recognize Silas crossing the log? We were lucky that the wind seemed to be blowing the fumes away from us - no stink other than our own farts!

[DIYSteve]

Oh yeah, now I recognize omnipresent Silas. Nice shoes

[the Zachster]

Ughhh...blowdowns with skis But the rest of it looked TOTALLY worth it! Great pics!

[seattlehikertoo]

I keep seeing these nice hike and ski reports. It makes me think about saddling them up again after several years long hiatus. I guess I could give it a go and flail my way down.

[silence]

yikes .. there weren't any big cracks showing like that on the squak when we climbed baker in jun 07 .. and the reports i've seen lately showed even more snow up by crag view than normal so i was thinking just the other day that we could maybe manage some skiing there .. it has some nice moderate slopes for us newbies .. but now i'm not so sure .. anyhow .. i think the skis will have to wait till winter .. i'm not a dedicated one yet like you and others we know .. we're in backpacking and climbing mode now

[peltoms]

Without skiis I like under, with skiis the over works for me. That is some nice vertical at the end of the run that is usually missed