Hiking Barometer Mountain in the Mount Baker Wilderness
Contents
Barometer Mountain Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 14.00Km
Elevation Gain: 1,000m
Highest Elevation: 1,761m
Average Gradient: 14.30%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 5 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 5 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round (Winter Preferred)
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Barometer Mountain Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 48°51’41.9″N 121°40’56.1″W
Disclaimer: Winter hiking (snowshoeing) involves significantly more risk than summer hiking. Hikers should be prepared with appropriate education, training and equipment for all possibilities, including but not limited to avalanches. A mistake such as going off trail, getting lost or injured can be far more dangerous in winter than summer. You are responsible for your own safety, and while I am happy to give my opinion on this website as to the avalanche risk of a specific hike, do not take this as fact and please do your own research. Everybody has different risk tolerances and mine might be different to yours.
Barometer Mountain Overview
Barometer Mountain is one of the lesser hiked summits accessed from the end of the Mount Baker Highway in the Mount Baker Wilderness. There is no trail to the summit, and without snow on the ground you can expect some bushwhacking along the ridge to reach the top. As such, a winter or early spring approach is preferred when snow will cover the brushy ridge, allowing for a simple ascent.
There is really only one approach that makes sense for Barometer, via the south east ridge, which is accessed from the Chain Lakes / Hayes Lake trail. While you will likely have tracks to follow to Hayes Lake (or an actual trail in the summer), beyond that you are more than likely going to be navigating yourself to the summit, given there is no trail to reach it and it’s not a popular enough hike in the winter to have any likelihood of a broken trail to follow.
Barometer Mountain is assuredly a peakbaggers peak, with other nearby options offering similar (if not better) views for less effort. If you haven’t already summited the likes of Mazama Dome, Mount Ann, Table Mountain or Huntoon Point, all of these offer easier trips and would probably take preference over Barometer.
While this route is largely low risk, as always parties should be prepared and knowledgeable when traveling in avalanche terrain.
The route described here climbs straight over Herman Pass before exiting the same way. This is the most direct option, however you can also follow the Chain Lakes Loop via the south slopes of Table Mountain to Hayes Lake, before climbing up to Barometer and returning via Herman Pass. Realistically this route would be best in the summer due to the avalanche concerns on the south slopes of Table, as well as the longer trip this would be in winter.
Thanks to the well maintained highway this hike is accessible for all vehicles, however tire chains are mandatory in the winter months. Barometer Mountain is a dog friendly hike.
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Is Barometer Mountain worthwhile?
The Mount Baker area always offers worthwhile views, especially in the winter. The only real drawback about this hike is that other nearby hikes are shorter and arguably offer better views, while this is a bit more involved. Barometer is one of those peaks that you climb after hiking the other more common peaks in the area, but that’s not to say it’s a desperate peak by any means. Winter will offer much more worthwhile views than the summer, and a far more pleasant approach without any bushwhacking.
How difficult is the hike to Barometer Mountain?
At 14km and 1,000m gain this isn’t a short hike, but nor is it that long. That being said, if you go in the winter and have to break trail this will be a very demanding day. As usual then, it largely depends on the conditions when you go. Even in good conditions, you are quite likely going to be breaking trail beyond Hayes Lake, in which case this will be a challenging outing. It will be easier if you go in the summer, however you’ll then have to deal with bushwhacking along the ridge, so pick your poison.
Technically speaking this is largely straightforward. The climb up to and down from Herman Pass is largely straightforward, even in winter when there are an abundance of tracks and routes to pick from. The real challenge begins at Hayes Lake, where you will need to navigate around a subsidiary bump, gain the ridge and follow it to the summit. The ridge is mostly straightforward, but there is one steep, narrow section that you’ll need to navigate just before the top. It’s not exposed to anything much, so most parties will be fine with it. You shouldn’t need an ice axe or crampons.
Barometer Mountain Route Information
The trailhead in the winter is from the Bagley Lakes trailhead on Mount Baker Highway. You could potentially also park at the Visitor Centre in the summer, though in the winter this isn’t accessible. If you opt for the longer route via the Chains Lakes Loop you’ll park at Artist Point, again this isn’t possible in winter. Note that in the winter tire chains are mandatory for all vehicles on Mount Baker Highway.
From the parking lot you’ll want to head to the southwest towards Bagley Creek where you should find the Bagley Lakes trail. In the winter there will usually be an abundance of tracks from skiers and snowshoers who have gone over to Bagley Lake, just follow them if so.
The trail will remain flat as you hike past Lower Bagley Lake first, before reaching Bagley Lake after around 1 km. In the summer you’ll want to connect to the Chain Lakes Loop trail by crossing a bridge over to the northern side of Bagley Lake, but in the winter the tracks will typically lead directly over the frozen lake.
Once you reach the other end of Bagley Lake the trail begins to climb gradually before quickly steepening. In the summer there will be an obvious trail to follow, with several switchbacks to reduce the gradient, but in the winter you’ll typically just follow the skin tracks that are likely winding their way up to the pass. There are plenty of options to pick from, some steeper than others, so just weave your way through, making sure to keep a generally accurate bearing.
The trail will climb around 300m in a little over a kilometer, at least in winter. In the summer it’s a little longer as the trail twists around a bit more. Here you’ll reach Herman Pass, where the views are outstanding already. You may want to stop for a break here, though in the early morning it might still be a bit chilly.
You’ll now drop down the other side of Herman Pass and navigate towards Hayes Lake. Route finding here can be a bit finicky, with tracks from the skiers all over the place. Just keep referring to your map and making sure to pick a route of least resistance. After around 150m of descending you should spot both Iceberg Lake to the south, and Hayes Lake to the north. You’ll want to now find a route down onto Hayes Lake (in the winter) and cross the lake to its western end. In the summer there will be a trail you can follow around the lake.
From the western end of Hayes Lake you’ll now be self navigating to the ridge, regardless of the season. After a brief climb up to the top of a ridge, you’ll now navigate around the northern slopes of this subsidiary bump , avoiding climbing to the top of it (which would be pointless elevation gain that you’ll only lose shortly). You should be able to see Barometer Mountain from here, and get a sense of the general route.
After navigating around these slopes for a few hundred meters, you’ll work your way up to the SE ridge of Barometer Mountain, and it’s now just a case of following it along. Most of the ridge will be forested, but in the winter it’s not too dense and there shouldn’t be any real bushwhacking. The same likely cannot be said in the summer.
There’s a few undulations along the ridge, but nothing crazy and for the most part it’s a steep but short ascent. There will be one short section of ridge just before the summit where it narrows and becomes a little steeper. In the summer this would be Class 2 scrambling, in the winter it’s just steep snow with no real exposure. Most will manage fine in snowshoes, but if you don’t mind changing gear you could always take them off and kick step up this short section.
Beyond that, the summit isn’t far away and it’s now just a steep ridgeline ascent to the top. From the summit the views will be very good, with Mount Baker and Shuksan stealing the limelight. Other notable peaks will be Mount Herman, Mazama Dome, Table Mountain, Tomyhoi Peak, Mount Larrabee, the Border Peaks, the double summit of Goat Mountain and plenty more. On a sunny day the summit is a nice, spacious spot to relax and enjoy the views.
Once you’re finished, you simply return back the same way. The only real challenge now will be climbing back up to Herman Pass. The descent back from the pass to the trailhead is always very scenic though.
When should I hike Barometer Mountain?
Barometer Mountain is possible year-round, but winter is preferred to avoid the bushwhacking along the ridge. That being said, going in the summer will make the rest of the approach easier, following the typically well established Washington trails.
Top Tip
Barometer Mountain is really only worth it if you’ve already summited the other nearby peaks that are simpler and offer similar (if not better) views. This certainly should not be above Mazama Dome, Mount Ann and even Table Mountain in terms of priority. Even Ptarmigan Ridge and the Chain Lakes Loop should take preference (though both of these could feasibly be combined with Barometer).
