If
Yer #’s Up, Yer #’s Up
“If the place had legs, it would kick your fuckin’
ass.” Within 48 hours she gobbled up five people. Hairy,
Scary, Tarzan, Willows, and E-Brake might be lines to mention,
or maybe not... Oi Valley? Don’t even ask, just look
to the sky and smile. Mt. Baker, Washington: A place I shouldn’t
tell you about.
Holdin’ Such Wealth
Washington’s the crud! You ever wanted to find out how
good you really are at drivin’ in the snow? Try pushin’
it on the Baker Highway - (“Feels like grease to me”)
- Oh yeah, people can, and will, pass you in some of the craziest
spots; Stay calm, and yield to the bigger hick. If you feel
like livin’? Dive into a rush that’s right for you
- The “Land-O-Lines” isn’t exactly waiting;
But, it is there to “trust yourself and go,” so
want it or not. Feel like dyin’? Arrangements can be
made.
Loss
Of A Bet - Pay Up and Forget
When? The earlier the better. And be careful, the snow at
Baker is really good friends with the rain at Baker. Depending
on conditions, visiting hours (to go ride what you want to
ride) are from 9 am (sharp) ‘til about noon - or are
they? (“Sloppy slopes after lunch anybody?” - Not
so hard to achieve) For the die hard, they close at 4 pm.
Visiting day: Midweek (monday-friday) - You’ll pay no
more than $20.00 (according to the 98-99 brochure); Weekends
and Holidays - Pay no more than $30.00. If you want comparison,
I can’t do it. If on the subject of what I’d spend
to ride there... $40.00, without any fight; “$20.00 midweek?
Bang for the buck? Can I say fuck? Oh, and in all guestimation,
November through February could bring some true prosperity
- or could it?
If You Only Knew
Nearest accomodations to the resort with no phones? 17 miles.
That would be Glacier, and Glacier would be: lot a trees;
the Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop; Milano’s Restaurant; Grahams’
(general store); good people; more trees; All in all, if you
want a ticket away from all the hustle and bustle, check into
Glacier, If you’re a city kid, Bellingham is more your
spot. Not a huge city, but has all you’d want: Places
to buy fishing gear/river; ATM’s/facilities galore/ restaurants;
Coffee/your own sunshine; and is home to Carter’s Carving
Edge (CCE) where you can feel the history (and see it too)
while gettin’ your board tuned for the hill. Bellingham
is an hour and 15 minutes from Mt. Baker, or is it?
Simple
Pleasures
From my own little journey, comes this flow of fore-warning
- Baker is real close to Canada, so if you choose to cross
the border, do yourself a little favor: Clean out your car!
This way, you won’t have so much shit to pick up, after
they say “Have a nice day.” Baker buried 5 people
in two days; A man by the name of “Jason,” from
Mt. Vernon was 25 years old. He’s now gone... And how
lucky was I? Well, let’s just say that I (along with
Bas, Dave Price, and Darren) had a little “run-in”
with his mother, the day after he got buried. (The look on
her face is something I’ll never forget) - “My son
is lost out here! Please go to where it’s safe, don’t
put your mother through what I’m goin’ through...
He’s gone!” In all silence, it was heavy... and
ya know what? It still is: get to know the if’s, when’s,
and why’s of avalanches, get yer ass to the nearest mountain
shop for the necessary backhill/in-bounds tools, and for God’s
sakes... Get with the group (riding alone kills).
I’m Missing It Right Now, Damn!
Death sucks and Life rules, Washington’s cool and this
is why: Mt. Baker, Damage Inc. Snowboards, Little ‘B’,
Cubs, Jeff Fulton, Tony Welch, Bas, Zoe, The Slant Skate/Snowboard
shop, Jamie Lynn, Boone, Chris Fulton and Mel, Tex, Chris
Albrect, Scott Smiley, Ranquet, Loeb, Dan Penzotti, Shitty
James Klinedinst, Mark Friesen, Tory Bland, Schmidt’s,
clean air, Ellie, and “The Tree” which protects
us - Thank you more than... One last thing - Dave Sypniewski
said it best - “By the way, this isn’t an invitation
to come ride Baker, especially if you think you’re going
to come and show everybody something new.”
If
Yer #’s Up, Yer #’s Up
Simple
Pleasures