Koma Kulshan (Baker)
WA100: Peak 2/100
written by Scott Kranz | #WA100Project
Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker) is located on the traditional lands of the Nooksack, Nlaka’pamux, Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla Peoples, past and present.
The south flank of Koma Kulshan, also known as Mount Baker, the third highest mountain in Washington State
A ski ascent/descent of Koma Kulshan (Mt. Baker), the third highest mountain in the state, on May 20-21, 2023. Personally, Koma Kulshan was my first big volcano back in 2014, climbed as a sort of graduation climbs as part of the Washington Alpine Climb. I hadn't returned to the summit, until now.
What a privilege to climb with two dear friends, Alpinist and Adaptive Climber Kimber Cross, and Elite Survivalist, Photographer, and Snowboarder Max Djenohan.
Kimber and I approached via the Park Butte trailhead and Railroad Grade route, in search of our base camp, knowing that Max would approach at sunset and join us for the summit the next morning.
Kimber Cross approaches the typical base camp area along the Easton route, along the south side of the mountain.
We were blessed with a fantastic sunset! It kept getting better and better.
Max Djenohan and Kimber Cross enjoying the sunset from our base camp the night before our alpine start up the volcano.
Following our 2 AM alpine start, we quickly entered a cloud on the upper mountain. We passed by other rope teams in the dark, some from the United States and others from Canada, and eventually found ourselves to be the first to gain the Sherman Crater rim.
Starting up the Roman Wall around 9800 feet of elevation. We kept skinning until the steepest section of the Roman Wall, which we ascended on foot.
Kimber Cross and Max Djenohan on the summit! Low visibility but all smiles.
We reached the summit proper at 7:15 AM! The feeling to stand on top, and to be the first party to do so that week, was special. The sun revealed itself intermittently, but by and large, we were still very much in the “ping pong ball.”
On our 7K ski descent, Max Djenohan doing what he does best!
Kimber Cross taking turns and enjoying the views.
Next to a massive ice serac along the Easton glacier, captured on our descent.
Knowing that many of my WA100 trips will be experienced as a solo climber, this was a treat to join Kimber Cross and Max Djenohan on this volcano. Given the low visibility conditions on the summit, it may be that I return next year for more documentation, but I’m thrilled that we reached the summit and descended safely. A truly powerful mountain and volcano that holds a special place in my heart.
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT:
During this project, I will collaborate with local and national nonprofit groups to spread awareness, to fundraise, to highlight their mission and programs, and sometimes to join representatives of these groups in climbing. My nonprofits will include groups that serve women in the outdoors; Black, Indigenous, and People of Color climbers; LGBTQ+ adventurers, and other underserved and underrepresented group members.
Climbers of Color (CoC) is a Washington State nonprofit organization with the mission to increase access to climbing for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color by providing educational courses and supportive mentorship to leaders of color in the climbing community. To accomplish its mission, Climbers of Color provides supportive mentorship, technical training and access to key resources including gear and scholarships.
SheJumps increases the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities to foster confidence, leadership, and connection to nature and community. SheJumps believes growth is in our nature, but fear of stereotypes, failure, rejection, labels, etc—those spoken over us, spoken inside of us and what we’ve believed—limit our growth. SheJumps helps women and girls take risks in the outdoors to enable them to break through fears and internal/external barriers in life so they can grow to their full potential.
THE WA100 PROJECT
Over the next two seasons, Scott Kranz is embarking on a personal journey to climb and document Washington state's 100 highest peaks. These summits are all in the Cascades, the mountain range that transformed his life. His aim behind this project is to celebrate the ways in which we connect with our local landscapes while also giving back by uplifting and supporting the outdoor community and organizations that strive for inclusivity and accessibility in outdoor spaces.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Kranz is a full-time outdoor photographer and filmmaker based in Seattle. Born and raised in Minnesota, Scott moved to Washington State in 2013 and first explored the Cascade Range, which sparked a lifelong love of outdoor adventure and photography. Since, he’s come to partner with some of the world’s leading brands and shot on all seven continents.