Baring Mountain

Baring Mountain (or Mount Baring), is a peak in the central part of the Cascade Range of Washington, United States. It lies about 2 metres (0.0020 km) northeast of the Skykomish River and US Highway 2, at the western edge of the Cascades in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It is about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Mount Index and Barclay Lake at its base is accessible via Forest Road 6024 and a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) hike.[3]

Baring Mountain
Baring Mountain as seen from Barclay Lake
Highest point
Elevation6,127 ft (1,868 m)  NAVD 88[1]
Prominence2,445 ft (745 m) [2]
Coordinates47°46′45″N 121°26′09″W [1]
Geography
Baring Mountain
Baring Mountain
Baring Mountain (the United States)
Parent rangeCascade Range
Climbing
First ascentJuly 28, 1897 by John Charlton, Albert H. Sylvester (first recorded ascent)
Easiest routeHike/scramble

Baring Mountain was previously known as Mount Index before being renamed in 1917. The peak currently named Mount Index was known as West Index Mountain until that time.[4]

Like Mount Index, Baring Mountain is a dramatic peak, because of its steep rise above low footings, the Skykomish River is at an elevation of only 760 feet (230 m), and particularly because of its large, sheer Northeast Face, which drops about 750 m (2,460 ft) in only 250 m (820 ft) and drops another 1,250 ft (380 m) at a lower angle to Barclay Lake.

The first recorded ascent of Baring Mountain was on July 28, 1897 by John Charlton and Albert H. Sylvester. However given the nontechnical nature of the easiest ascent route a much earlier Native American ascent is possible. The standard route on the mountain is the Northwest Ridge Route, involving hiking (off-trail, some of it through brush) and a small amount of scrambling at the top.

The northeast aspect of the peak is home to several routes of great length and technical difficulty (up to Grade V, 5.10).[5] The northeast face was first climbed on July 13, 1960 by Ed Cooper and Don Gordon Claunch.[6]

The first BASE jump off Baring Mountain was done by Todd Higley and Josh Whipple, in August 2001. Michael McMurtrey, of Seattle, was the first to jump from Baring using a wingsuit, in June 2004.

  • BASE Wingsuit Picture: First BASE wingsuit jumps off Baring Mountain (June, 2004)
  • BASE Wingsuit Picture: First BASE wingsuit jumps off Baring Mountain (June, 2004)
  • BASE Wingsuit Picture: Recent BASE wingsuit jump off Baring Mountain (September, 2010)

References
  1. "Baring". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. "Baring Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. McQuaide, Mike (2005). Day hike! central Cascades. Sasquatch Books. ISBN 978-1-57061-412-5.
  4. Carlson, Warren (2009). Upper Skykomish Valley. Images of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub.
  5. Beckey, Fred (1987). Cascade Alpine Guide: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass (2nd ed.). Seattle, Wash: The Mountaineers.
  6. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.


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