Mounts Rainier and Saint Helens seem to get all the press due to Rainier’s size and Helen’s recent activities. But Baker is perhaps the more interesting and its beauty will be scored into your memory for a number of reasons.

Although Mount Baker has a number of native names, its most often heard native name is Koma Kulshan: Great White Watcher. It is the northern most volcano in the Washington State Cascade Range and is also the youngest, estimated to be somewhere between 80,000 and 120,000 years old. That is very young as volcanoes go and it is the most active volcano in the range, second to Helens. At 10,778 feet, it actually has more snowfall than any other place on the planet. Tough to believe? Jog your memory about the history of rainfall in Washington State, touting its own coniferous rain forest. Moisture in this state dose not suddenly stop at higher elevations. Try on 95 feet of snow in a single season. That explains why Baker also has a widely popular ski resort.

When driving through the state, examining the terrain, Baker’s snow covered cone is by far and away the most beautiful, set off by its neighboring contrast, Mount Shuksan, with its off centered ragged edged peak. Mount Baker’s snow cone can easily be seen on a clear day from the Edmonds Ferry Terminal, I5 at Lynnwood, from as far north as Vancouver, B.C. and south into parts of Seattle.

If you want a closer look, It is about 30 miles due east of Bellingham. One of the easy accesses is near the ski resort. There is a trail head and path from there. The hike is a combination of heather covered hills that look professionally landscaped by Mother Nature and moonscapes covered with fields of shale and a brilliant blue ice lake. You can camp safely with a view of Baker that looks as if you could touch it. Morning sunrise is beyond shocking as the pink and orange glazes the ice covered mountain. This single event will permanently score Baker into your memory.