Freelance for Cascadia Daily News.
Assigned to capture a photo story of opening Day at Mt. Baker, I photographed first chair to last descent.
After finishing my internship with Cascadia Daily News in December, there was one last project we had the passion to execute, opening day at Bellingham’s local mountain.
Jon Blue spins a backside-360 off of a rollor underneath Chair 8, which was not running yet, at Mt. Baker Ski Area on opening day, Wednesday, Dec. 13. Most who came out today were slightly apprehensive and had low expectations for fun conditions, but the combination of Sun and 40-degree temperatures made for some playful snow that pleasantly surprised most passholders today.
Kelsey Nicholson talks to her friend, Hatcher Cox, while catching up with each other at a "slow sign" at Mt. Baker Ski Area. Their friends and themselves were skiing in a group of about 10, all friends from their freshman year at Western Washington University.
Jack Clement, right, Trevor Lackey, and Isaiah Buckley snag first chair on passholder opening day at Mt. Baker Ski Area on Dec. 13. After attempting to catch first chair the past few seasons, the three high school seniors waited in line from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. this morning for Chair 1 even making breakfast on a campstove in the lift line. The three seniors accomplished what they had set out to do this season: make first chair.
Emma Clanton, left, Emmelyn Affeldt, Audrey Limbach and Logan Cucksey, right, all laugh about what conversation they were having while having a beer before being photographed outside Raven's Hut at Mt. Baker Ski Area on opening day, Dec. 13, 2023. "With such a late start to the season, it's like the cherry on top for Christmas time," Emmelyn Affeldt said.
Jack Clement (in blue), right, Trevor Lackey, middle right, and Isaiah Buckley (middle left) show excitement after catching first chair on passholder opening day at Mt. Baker Ski Area on Wednesday, Dec. 13. The three high school seniors had camped in the Heather Meadows parking lot the night before and got in line at 6:00 a.m. to secure their spot. They even went as far as to cook breakfast in line at Chair 1.
Skiers and boarders form a line at Chair 1 at Mt. Baker Ski Area on opening day, Dec. 13, 2023.
Justin Slattery (teal pants), left, Emma Slattery (in purple), middle, and Elise Tuininga (in blue), right, ski down from Chair 5 at Mt. Baker Ski Area on Dec. 13, 2023. Justin Flattery said he and his daughter Emma Flattery have made the past few opening days
Justin Flattery, left, Elise Tuininga, middle, and Emma Flattery (in purple), ride up Chair 5 on opening day together.
Kelsey Nicholson (in blue) and Hatcher Cox ride down from Chair 6 (in background) on opening day at Mt. Baker Ski Area. Kelsey Nicholson is a junior at Western Washington University.
Elise Tuininga, left, and Emma Flattery get drinks and Duncan's Hand Cut Fries at Raven Hut at Mt. Baker Ski Area on opening day. Both are friends and on a ski team together. Emma Flattery said her favorite part of skiing at Mt. Baker is getting fries at the lodge.
Tim Comfort, left, Stephanie Vigil, and Timothy William pose for a photo inside Raven Hut on opening day. Timothy William is the floor supervisor at Raven Hut and is starting his 8th year as a cook for Mt. Baker Ski Area. He is commonly known as "Fry Guy."
WMBC Executive Director Eric Brown, left, and his kids, Cleo Brown, middle, and Wylie Brown have drinks in Raven Hut on opening day. Eric Brown and his son Wylie Brown were apprehensive to go out on opening day but, "Cleo talked us into it," Eric Brown said. "I just wanted to ski and meet up with friends," Cleo Brown said.
Dick Fields goes to grab a chair to ease it in for the skiers about to get a ride up. Dick Fields is a first-year liftie but has been riding at Mt. Baker Ski Area since 2014. This is the first season where chairs 4,5, and 6 are powered by a central Caterpillar Inc. generator that has helped reduce the ski area's overall emmisions. "It's so quiet down here now with the new generator," Dick Fields said.
Fillip Slutsky, left, Jon blue and Jakob Walz walk from the top of Chair 6 to Blueberry on the last chair up for the day at 2:45 p.m. "What a great day to be skiing," Jakob Walz said.