Last updated: 20-Feb-17
1913 was the last time that runners took on the challenge to race from the Washington coast to the summit of Mount Baker at 3286 metres. Now it is set to make a comeback, albeit along a slightly different route.
The Mount Baker Ultra race will take place on June 4th and will start and end in the rather solidly named town of Concrete. It is a 50 miler out and back. For this iteration, the high point will actually be Sherman Peak at 3,097 metres rather than Grant Peak which is the main summit. Concrete lies at just 84 metres so there is plenty of ascent. The course rises gradually for the first 20 miles reaching 1015m at the Schriebers meadow trailhead. Over the next 5 miles the course climbs steeply to the summit.
There is an 18-hour cut-off.
It promises to be an exciting ascent as there are moving glaciers in that area so the race organisers will be setting up 1.5 miles of fixed rope up the glacier to the summit.
It isn’t a cheap race to enter at $595 but it is a fantastic chance to climb Mount Baker in the context of a race and to reclaim a bit of history.
