The second objective for my “peak-bagging” on this trip was Mt. Shuksan which is Washington’s 10th highest peak, located east of Mt. Baker. Again, due to ice and rockfall conditions on several of the routes, we decided on the “safer” Sulphide Glacier route. Another glaciated peak, it required about a 7 mile approach hike. The approach hike began on an old road so was not really steep for the first several miles but then became a tangled mess trying to navigate up gnarled roots and rocks. On the way we saw lots of bear poop and we were pretty wary on the trail as there were amazing wild blueberry bushes on both sides, laden with ripe berries.

Once we found a good area to camp, we ate dinner, took some photos and filled up our water bottles. The start the following morning wasn’t as early as the Mt. Baker summit although we had about 3,000 vertical feet to climb. The climb starts out on the glacier and then is a roped rock climb up the summit ridge and then a belayed descent down the gully back to the glacier. We made the summit climb in good time but instead of breaking camp and going back down to the car, we decided to spend another night. That was a mistake – probably the most miserable night on a mountain. Ever.

It started raining about two hours after we returned from the summit and did not stop until we headed down the next morning and made it to the car. Every piece of raingear came out and was immediately soaked due to the wind and rain. When I dismantled my tent, it was as wet inside as it was outside and was sitting in about 2″ of standing water. Nothing like trying to cram a wet tent into your pack, knowing that everything inside will be soaked! We made it down to the car in about 1/2 the time it took us to get up to camp.

While drying out and waiting for Larina and Bob to pick me up, I laid all my wet gear and tent out on the sidewalk in front of the Sedro Woolley Ranger Station. Two people asked me if I needed help or a ride somewhere – must have looked homeless!