Baer Canyon Approach

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

On both traverses, be mindful of stability. For example, in Spring, if you stay too long, the exit traverse might be scary if you're seeing rollers, especially as there are rocks above the GWT (Great Western Trail) that will help heat the snow.

Sometimes spelled "Bair Canyon", but spelled "Baer Canyon" on the trailhead sign, this is the best approach, I think, for skiing the head of Baer Canyon. You could also use the Wolverine Ridge to Francis Peak trail, but only if you think you can safely ski that terrain across the terrain traps that divide it from this approach and the target area.

Starting at the trailhead, you need to get to the north side of the canyon. The easiest way to do this is to make a left turn downhill right from the parking lot, not the more well-worn right turn. Head downhill and then find a trail that bends right and crosses the drainage. Re-ascend to the BST on the other side. As of this writing, there is some construction going on, so maybe they'll improve things, but hopefully preserve access.

From here, the most direct route is to just make your own trail up the north ridge of the canyon. You'll find some deer trails that eventually link up to an old trail now seldom traveled due to a fire (burned some time ago) that wiped most of it out. To stay on a trail proper the whole way, you'd have to hike north along the BST, almost to the gun range sign, to find a trail that heads up and eventually turns back south. In any case, you're trying to find a trail that leads to Eddie's Flat. All the trails below it seem to converge upon it.

On a side note, the fire was a darn shame. I had the privilege of hiking this area before the fire, and it was very, very pretty and unique in terms of foliage mixed with rock formations. I hope it recovers one day.

You'll know Eddie's Flat when you reach it. It has an exit to the north, and one to the east. Take the latter up the mountain to a local maximum on the ridge that links up with the GWT. This is Eddie's Peak. From this peak, it's a fairly straightforward skinner to the GWT, save a few obstacles that will make you choose which side of the ridge you trust more.

The ridge gets pretty steep before it actually meets up with the GWT. I chose to leave the ridge before this steepness at the final saddle below the GWT, and traverse over to the Baer Necessities ski line. You can ski to it by going slightly downhill as you traverse, but maintaining as much elevation as you can as you do.

On return, I took the GWT at the top of the Baer Necessities ski line north, but before the GWT meets the ascent ridge, ski down to the aforementioned saddle, a higher traverse than the last.