Leaving the White Salmon Parking lot of Mount Baker Ski Resort traverse east towards the base of Chair 8. Once almost there you will see a small turn off to the left where you need to head to before descending into the White Salmon Creek Valley. Descend down the Northeast slopes making sure to stay within the trees and before long you will be at the base and preparing for a long climb ahead of you.

Heading up the lookers right side of the White Salmon Creek you will find yourself within a large avalanche debris field, make your way across it fast before gaining elevation southeast. Just before arriving at the flats below the White Salmon Glacier debris field cut a hard lookers right into a small treed section. Work your way up through the north facing trees and once just below the top wrap southwest a bit and gain the ridge.

Now you have a perfect view of the White Salmon Glacier above you and it is time to either commit or turn around. Starting to climb you are already almost at the crux of the trip doing a steep traverse to the east a bit before wrapping back west onto the actual glacier, this is the steepest section of the climb and once past it the slope eases up. From here on out making your way up the Northwestern Shoulder which is easy skinning until the final 200 feet where you may need to boot pack.

Once on the ridge it is time for your descent laying tracks down an open canvas. Drop into the glacier and instead of heading for the tree island you climbed earlier you can stay in the gut riding fall line and with a bit of speed you will make it past the debris field and near where your first descent was. It is time to climb up through steep and dense trees back to the ski resort. Once back on your first transition point you can switch over to head back to the parking lot but if you’re a snowboarder make sure to keep your poles out as it is flat.

To see my trip in the area and a video of our check out this link https://www.whereiskylemiller.com/mt-baker-542/whitesalmon/