Table Mountain Ski Tour

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Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 3.4 miles / 5.5 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: The Table Mountain Tour is a great summer backcountry ski tour that can be done most years through early to mid-July. The high point of the climb is the saddle at the central elbow of Table Mountain. This short tour is easily done in a half-day and yo-yoing the lower slopes or the entire run is an option that will extend your ski day. Only attempt this tour late in the year when the snowpack is completely stabilized as there are numerous cornice and avalanche hazards during the winter and early spring.

Tips: This tour has a moderate amount of exposure in the midsection of the climb so crampons are advised during the climb. Because of this exposure careful descent planning is also important to avoid losing an edge on the steep pitches that run across the midsection of this face right above several significant cliff bands. Dogs are NOT recommended on this or any other steep summer tour - they are not able to maintain traction on summer corn on descent. Full HD maps can be found at www.drtelemark.com - see link below.

Points of Interest

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Start of Tour

Begin the tour from the Mt. Baker ski area upper parking and head south toward the Bagley lakes basin. Then turn SW, traversing the lower slope of the north face of Table Mountain. In stable conditions, you may traverse right along the base of the north slope however if there has been recent snow, avoid placing yourself the avalanche zones that are scattered across the slope.

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Bagley Lakes Basin

Once you have reached the center of the basin at the elbow of the mountain, pack your skies and boot up the steep face, taking care to follow a route that will not expose you to a dangerous fall. After climbing up 1000 ft from the basin, you’ll find the first bench, marking the end of the steepest climb.

Bagley Basin from the base of the main run Photo

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First Bench

Again, do NOT bring your dog on this tour. During the summer, dogs cannot maintain traction on this face. From the first bench, continue SW up a narrow chute to the second bench.

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Second Bench

This bench opens into a high basin, complete with an ice-blue lake, often just melted out in early July.
From the second bench, it is a short climb to the saddle which is your destination.

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Table Mountain Saddle

In some years, you may climb the wall to the south to reach the southern Table Mtn. Plateau, but cornices often prevent this short extension of the climb.

Descent:
From the saddle, turn to the East and NE to descend following your uptrack. Remember to bear right on the descent, especially on the lower first bench. Failure to move far enough eastward out on to the north face of the mountain can be very dangerous. The natural roll of the pitches below the first bench will steer you to words the cliff bands that you passed on the way up. Descend to the right of the elbow out onto the north face of Table Mountain for the long runs to the basin. If you fail to do this, you may find yourself slipping over 50 foot cliffs or other rock bands that will ruin your day.

The main run is a fabulous slope in summer - 40-45 degrees at the top with a long runout to the Bagley Lakes Basin. Enjoy.

Skiing the main run below the first bench Photo

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Bagley Lakes Runout

Once at the basin, boot back up again to the top of the last long run and repeat as desired. These 40 degree runs often have great corn snow in the early summer and are worth repeating.

Ski down to the Bagley Lakes basin and traverse east toward the ski area and the north to the parking lot. Look back at the steep slopes of Table Mountain’s north face and smile at the turns you made.