Forum Index > Trip Reports > Herman & Slate (Mt. Baker area) 1-27-07
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostTue Jan 30, 2007 3:29 pm 
Ever since my first trip to Mazama Dome (with Stefan in ’02), I’ve wanted to try Herman, but had to wait for stable snow and good weather. With both conditions in abundance, we were able to pull off a loop over both Herman & Slate. Out party included Mike T, Billie, Richard B, Lynn, Eric, Jay, Randy, & Richard J.
Route Map
Route Map
Slate, Herman & Mazama Dome viewed from the north (Barometer)
Slate, Herman & Mazama Dome viewed from the north (Barometer)
With clear skies and firm snow, we hiked along Bagley Lakes and up to the 5400-foot col just west of Mazama Dome. From there we traversed north past outcrops of Herman, till we reached the wide gully that extends up westward to the 5950-foot col just south of Herman’s summit. Along the way up, I dropped a Power Bar down the crusty slope, but Randy caught it a hundred feet downhill, a favor that I was able to repay later in the day. From the col, we proceeded directly up the ridge, which started out narrow and steep but had good snow for kicking steps.
Ascending to the col near Mazama Dome
Ascending to the col near Mazama Dome
At the col west of Mazama Dome
At the col west of Mazama Dome
Traversing north around Herman
Traversing north around Herman
Ascending the Herman summit ridge
Ascending the Herman summit ridge
The Herman summit (6285) had lots of space and great views, but needed some caution to stay back from the large cornice on the north side. We had an especially good view down onto the flat top of Table Mountain.
Herman summit group
Herman summit group
Matt on Herman summit
Matt on Herman summit
Table Mountain from Herman
Table Mountain from Herman
The descent off the north side of Herman was quite steep (maybe 45 degrees), so three people decided to retrace our approach and visit Mazama Dome, while the other six continued to Slate. We dropped down the steep snow and angled across to the Herman-Slate col at 5750 feet. We found a route upward following a narrow gully just right (west) of the ridge crest.
Descending north side of Herman
Descending north side of Herman
Herman-Slate col
Herman-Slate col
Slate summit group
Slate summit group
Slate’s summit (6209) provided another wide platform with good views, where I could enjoy my summit tea. Besides Baker & Shuksan, the northern line of peaks stood out clearly – Tomyhoi, Canadian & American Border, Larrabee, and east & west Goat.
Herman from Slate
Herman from Slate
Summit tea - looking back to Baker and our approach
Summit tea - looking back to Baker and our approach
Summit tea - looking ahead to Shuksan and our descent
Summit tea - looking ahead to Shuksan and our descent
To complete the loop, we descended northward off Slate to the wide gully that extends westward between Slate and its south summit. From there we curved downward west and then south around the east flanks of Slate and then Herman. On the shaded colder snow, we finally got to use all the foot hardware we’d been carrying. First we wore snowshoes for soft snow on the upper slopes, then crampons for steeper hard snow lower down. I repaid Randy’s earlier favor by catching his crampon when it came off and bounced down a steep slope. We arrived at Bagley Creek east of Herman and then hiked back uphill a few hundred feet to the parking lot.
Curving down below Herman to Bagley Creek
Curving down below Herman to Bagley Creek
Coming up from Bagley Creek with Herman & Slate above
Coming up from Bagley Creek with Herman & Slate above
Sunset from the parking lot
Sunset from the parking lot
Back at the cars, we were treated to bright alpenglow highlighting the northern peaks. We stayed long enough to watch the light climb the peaks until only the last tip of Goat was lit up. Loop trip about 6 miles, 3400 feet of gain, 7.5 hours. Additional pictures here

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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TrailPair
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TrailPair
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PostTue Jan 30, 2007 4:05 pm 
Wow, great stuff! up.gif Y'all must have been the group we saw heading up the col adjacent to Mazama Dome as we were heading up that way on Saturday. Man, it just ddoesn't get any better thatn that! dizzy.gif

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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JimK
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PostTue Jan 30, 2007 4:09 pm 
Matt, Thanks for the report. We were coming up the valley as you were nearing the 5400' col. From the ridge and then summit of Mazama Dome we watched your progress to the summit. Looks like a great trip. A trip that really requires very low avalanche danger as you stated. In the photo below your group is on the high spot below the first gully. The 5400' col is at far right.
Mt. Herman Route
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Mt. Herman Route
Thanks again. I did not expect to see photos from your trip.

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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostTue Jan 30, 2007 5:25 pm 
JimK, Thanks for the picture. I didn't know if anyone saw us once we were past the first col.
JimK wrote:
Matt, Thanks for the report.... In the photo below your group is on the high spot below the first gully.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Sabahsboy
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Sabahsboy
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PostTue Jan 30, 2007 7:03 pm 
Herman summit
What a grand place! Thank you for the spectacular achievement...the photos reveal the glories of that trip!

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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



Joined: 15 May 2003
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostTue Jan 30, 2007 8:09 pm 
Excellent TR. I love the way the snow looked like merangue this weekend. Almost iridescent. Weeeelllll. I don't know if I'd call it iridescent. More like shiny.

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!



Joined: 06 Jul 2003
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!
PostTue Jan 30, 2007 10:49 pm 
So envious of you west coasters.. I have yet to venture around Baker bawl.gif Looks so beautiful ..thanks for sharing biggrin.gif

"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostTue Jan 30, 2007 11:15 pm 
Rocking trip! I'm glad you took full advantage of the day.

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cartman
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PostTue Mar 20, 2007 5:18 pm 
If doing Herman in winter, be advised that most of which appears to be the "summit" (the top looks a bit like a dome) is mostly cornice. We got a good look at it from the back side when descending the east slope heading over to Slate. Curious what the actual summit looks like without snow--I'm betting it's quite small.

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wildernessed
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PostTue Mar 20, 2007 6:17 pm 
up.gif up.gif NICE. Thanks for sharing ! hink.gif

Living in the Anthropocene
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostTue Mar 20, 2007 9:41 pm 
Since cartman mentioned it, here's a picture of the Herman summit cornice, taken from Slate. By reference to the trees, you can see that it's fairly large, probably at least 15-20 feet. The photo colors are distorted so details will show up better.
Herman summit cornice
Herman summit cornice

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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