Mount Baring
Encyclopedia
Baring Mountain, or Mount Baring, is a peak in the central part of the Cascade Range
of Washington, United States
. It lies about 2 miles (3 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 the base is accessible via Forest Road 6024 and a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) hike.
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.
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 (231.6 m), and particularly because of its large, sheer Northeast Face, which drops 3700 feet (1,127.8 m) to Barclay Lake in only one-half mile (0.8 km).
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
). The northeast face was first climbed on July 13, 1960 by Ed Cooper and Don Gordon Claunch.
The first BASE jump
off of Baring Mountain was done by Todd Higley and Josh Whipple, in August 2001. Michael McMurtrey, of Seattle Washington, was the first to jump from Baring using a wingsuit
, in June 2004.
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
of Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies about 2 miles (3 km) northeast of the Skykomish River
Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
and US Highway 2, at the western edge of the Cascades in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington extends more than along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canadian border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. Forest headquarters are located in the city of Everett....
. It is about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Mount Index
Mount Index
Mount Index is a peak in the central part of the Cascade Range of Washington state. It lies just south of the Skykomish River and U.S. Route 2, at the western edge of the Cascades. Despite its relatively low elevation, it is a famous and dramatic landmark, as it comprises three pointed spires which...
and the base is accessible via Forest Road 6024 and a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) hike.
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.
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 (231.6 m), and particularly because of its large, sheer Northeast Face, which drops 3700 feet (1,127.8 m) to Barclay Lake in only one-half mile (0.8 km).
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
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
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
Scrambling
Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent...
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
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
). The northeast face was first climbed on July 13, 1960 by Ed Cooper and Don Gordon Claunch.
The first BASE jump
BASE jumping
BASE jumping, also sometimes written as B.A.S.E jumping, is an activity that employs an initially packed parachute to jump from fixed objects...
off of Baring Mountain was done by Todd Higley and Josh Whipple, in August 2001. Michael McMurtrey, of Seattle Washington, was the first to jump from Baring using a wingsuit
Wingsuit flying
Wingsuit flying is the sport of flying the human body through the air using a special jumpsuit, called a wingsuit, which adds surface area to the human body to enable a significant increase in lift. Modern wingsuits, first developed in the late 1990s, create the surface area with fabric between the...
, in June 2004.