Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 203 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline, WA
Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:42 pm
Mt Baring – 8/17
Had great trip up Mt Baring last Sunday. Have eyed that peak for quite some time and it is always a very impressive sight from Rt 2 and from Barclay Lake. Didn’t have any luck generating interest on my Partners post, but my friend Eric and his buddy Jay were up for it.
We started out from the Barclay Lake trailhead, followed the old road for about 100 yds. First came upon an avalanche chute with debris across the old road. We were only at about 2,200 ft and this debris still had patches of snow buried in it. About 20 yds past this chute we came upon the small creek that marks the trail. As advertised, the trip starts out as a steep climbers path. The path was fairly easy to follow plus had a bit of flagging.
It is steep though, with nary a switchback, and after a brutal hour of scrambling uphill we gained the ridge top at around 4,000 ft.
We then followed the ridge with nice views, and enjoyed a very welcome breeze as it was beginning to get pretty warm.
Eventually we came upon a cliffy area and the path traversed around it and then it was another steep climb up to regain the ridge at around 4,800 ft. Once gaining the ridge we had a clear view of the gully and the notch between the 2 peaks.
This gully was surprisingly clear of snow with only one snow patch to cross.
We got up to the notch in about 45 min
and then took a serious lunch break before pushing on to the summit.
This final path weaved through shrubby trees and rock field. Then with a little class 3 scramble we gained the summit.
From the top we had fairly good views. The humidity and clouds put a haze on everything but that didn’t diminish our exhilaration to have reached the top, 6,125 ft. It had taken us 5 hrs from the time we left the car.
Was easy to retrace out track all the way down and only took 3 hrs to make it back to the car.
The last part, from the ridge down to the old logging road, was the worst part as the heat and humidity made it feel like we were descending into a tropical rainforest. I think we sweated just as much going down as we did during the ascent of that section.
This was definitely one of the tougher hikes I’ve done this season. But now every time I drive out Rt 2 I’ll be able to look up at Baring and think, “I done that one…”
Thanks for the tr. I think Baring would be a very rewarding summit, with its prominence to Highway 2 and the valley. Is that scrambling route picture as vertical as it seems? I'm trying to determine whether I'd be able to summit this one.
I really want to summit Baring. My attempt in 2006 fell a bit short due to time constraints followed by a very fast descent down a section below the 4000' ridgeline.
Thanks for the pics
Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 203 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline, WA
Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:31 pm
Adam - the Scrambling Route pic is probably a bit deceiving due to the angle. There were only a few short sections that were pure class 3, holding on with both hands, and exposure was not bad at all. If you are comfortable scrambling up the haystack on Mt Si, then you would have no problem with the bit of scrambling needed to get up to the top of Baring.
Getting up (and then down) the steep climbers path between the start of the hike and the top of the ridge at 4,000 ft was probably the tougher part of the trip.
Adam - the Scrambling Route pic is probably a bit deceiving due to the angle. There were only a few short sections that were pure class 3, holding on with both hands, and exposure was not bad at all. If you are comfortable scrambling up the haystack on Mt Si, then you would have no problem with the bit of scrambling needed to get up to the top of Baring.
Getting up (and then down) the steep climbers path between the start of the hike and the top of the ridge at 4,000 ft was probably the tougher part of the trip.
Good Luck
Always thought Baring was out of my league, but your description has me re-considering... and I'm looking for a tough, but doable, dayhike idea at the moment. How does the steepness of the climbers' path compare to say, Mailbox or Teneriffe?
Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 203 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline, WA
Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:50 am
rdyhiker wrote:
Nice trip. And report.
Always thought Baring was out of my league, but your description has me re-considering... and I'm looking for a tough, but doable, dayhike idea at the moment. How does the steepness of the climbers' path compare to say, Mailbox or Teneriffe?
Patti - sort of picture the steep part of those slopes, but going virtually straight up. Now the path does zig and zag around trees at times, and there are other times when little vegatation assist comes in handy. The only sure way to know what it's like is to check it out .
Patti - sort of picture the steep part of those slopes, but going virtually straight up. Now the path does zig and zag around trees at times, and there are other times when little vegatation assist comes in handy. The only sure way to know what it's like is to check it out .
That's pretty steep, alright. Sounds doable though. Likely not in the same amount of time you did it, but doable. I imagine the descent is even more tough than the ascent... ? If I can find a partner willing to punish their quads, I just may take your advice and check it out, Tom. Thanks.
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Baring is now officially added to my to-do list. 
Sounds doable though. Likely not in the same amount of time you did it, but doable. 
I imagine the descent is even more tough than the ascent... ? If I can find a partner willing to punish their quads, I just may take your advice and check it out, Tom. Thanks.
So as long as you don't mind that, it's cool. 
