Dear friends,

A MBVRC science team will head to Mount Baker’s Sherman Crater for the annual round of gas sample collection this coming Monday-Tuesday [July 28-29].

We are looking for a few day-hikers who can help get our science and some of our personal gear up to base camp. A load of 10-20 pounds per person is anticipated. The planned camp location is along the Railroad Grade Trail at about 5700′, in the last grove of trees. This is below the treeless climbers camp at the head of the Railroad Grade [Sandy Camp], and there is good trail all the way. The one way distance along the Park Butte and Railroad Grade trails is about 3.5 miles, with 2400′ vertical gain. If you haven’t done this hike, it is spectacular as it runs along the crest of the razor-sharp 19th Century Railroad Grade moraine with great views of the Easton Glacier terminus and Mount Baker rising above. I will walk with volunteers if I can so I can point out some of the great geology along the way.

Please email right away if you’d like to join us: research ‘at’ mbvrc.wwu.edu

Please let us know where you would be coming from, how fit you are, and if you can drive other volunteers. You would need a pack big enough to carry your own day hike stuff plus a tent, rope, bag of food, or a box of science gear.

The climbing team will rendezvous in Bellingham at 10 AM, probably won’t get out of town until around 11. We can arrange to meet volunteer load carriers at the rendezvous, or elsewhere along the way, or at the Schreibers trailhead. We can figure out carpooling for the porters, who will be out for the day hike only.

If the weather is bad on Monday [forecast is currently good] we will bump our approach hike to Tuesday. Please let us know if you are available that day, just in case.

Many thanks,

Dave Tucker, MBVRC