I was at Mount Baker last weekend and was pleasantly surprised to see that the lower Coleman Glacier is totally dry and open, and ready for ice climbing! If you've been here before, you might know that normally we have to wait until the very late summer or early fall to get conditions like this, but I think it's safe to say that seracing season has started early this year!! 

This trip is beginner friendly - it's basically the Smoke Bluffs top roping of ice climbing! If we have a sufficiently large group and some more experienced climbers, then we can always split in to multiple groups in multiple areas to get different levels of challenge. For me personally, I'm going to be practicing leading on some lower-angle stuff. 

Minimum requirements: must be able to safely belay, at least top-rope belay and preferably lead belay. Rock or ice climbing experience helps, but is not necessary. 

The plan is to meet up in the morning on Saturday, drive to Baker, set up camp near the lower Coleman, then climb for the day. Then we will camp, climb again on Sunday, and hike out and drive home on Sunday afternoon/evening. I would prefer to be back in Vancouver at a "reasonable" hour - perhaps before 8pm if possible. 

For those of you who haven't done this before, here's a basic gear list:
- Overnight camping stuff (tent, sleeping bag, stove etc.)
- Crampons (ice climbing crampons are better, but mountaineering crampons work. can be rented from MEC - see http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary/Services/Stores/Vancouver.jsp)
- Mountaineering boots that fit your crampons and are suitable for front-pointing
- Ice axes (can be rented from the BCMC for $5/tool/day - see https://bcmc.ca/club_equipment.php)
- Helmet (MANDATORY - no helmet, no climb! can also rent from MEC at link above)
- Harness, belay device, beaners
- Ice screws (if you have)
- Cordalette and/or anchor material (if you have)
- Dry single rope (if you have; group will share)
- Goretex top + bottom (seracs can be wet)
- Clothes to keep you warm, dry, cool, for whatever the weather gives us
- Thin gloves and thick gloves
- Glacier glasses, sunscreen, SPF lip balm
- Headlamp
- Personal items
- Food and water

In order to get on the CONFIRMED list, please fill out your info in the spreadsheet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yqvoH1x_FOdboUVrJGeeGS8bfQgQAy25uVtBkluqf38/edit?usp=sharing

Any questions, comments, concerns in the meantime, feel free to email at marlaina dot rhymer at gmail dot com or call/text at 604-928-5812.