Chasing the Dream: Recalling the Winter of '98-'99, Mount Baker's Unforgettable 1,140 Inches of Snowfall
In December 1998, fresh out of Western Washington University, Jeff Hambelton had grand plans to embrace a winter as a snowboard enthusiast. Little did he know, he was about to witness history unfold on the slopes of Mount Baker. The 1998-99 snow season not only fulfilled Hambelton's winter aspirations but etched its name in the record books, delivering a staggering 95 feet of snow. This meteorological marvel, triggered by a La Niña weather pattern, secured Mount Baker's place in skiing and snowboarding history.
Hambelton, now an avalanche educator and co-founder of Bellingham’s Elevated Backcountry, reflects, "We were just like, this is an amazing year. But the idea that it would be a record-breaking year, we didn’t realize that until the summer." The winter of '98-'99 saw a relentless parade of storms, aligning perfectly with cold temperatures, resulting in monthly snow totals that could rival renowned ski destinations like Aspen or Taos. No ski hill, anywhere on the globe, has come close to matching the annual snowfall total Mount Baker witnessed that season.
Gwyn Howat, Mt. Baker Ski Area CEO, recalls the exceptional winter that transformed every third day into a powder day with over 10 inches of fresh snow. However, amidst the euphoria for skiers and snowboarders, those tasked with operational responsibilities faced unprecedented challenges. The relentless snowfall took a toll, and a tragic avalanche incident altered the ski area’s approach to safety.
Howat shares, "In operations, we were so worn out, we couldn’t see the day that we shut down the lifts come quick enough. It was just so incredibly stressful." Beyond the record-breaking snowfall, the winter of '98-'99 left a lasting legacy, prompting a reassessment of avalanche safety protocols. The season unfolded with a bounty of La Niña storms, with Mount Baker receiving 178 inches of snowfall in November and an additional 225 inches in December.
Hambelton fondly remembers the relentless storms, each dropping 1 to 2 feet of snow, creating an atmosphere of unparalleled enthusiasm in the lift line. The winter of '98-'99 remains a cherished chapter in Mount Baker's history, where the community reveled in a ski and snowboard paradise, and nature, in all its glory, showcased its awe-inspiring power.
A Blizzard's Symphony: Reliving the Winter Symphony of '98-'99 at Mount Baker
New Year's Day in 1999 saw an unusual guest at Mount Baker—the rhythm of raindrops tapping, briefly interrupting the winter wonderland that had embraced the region. However, this rainstorm proved to be a fleeting anomaly in a season that would go down in history. As January bid farewell, the snow returned with unwavering determination, and from the first day of February until the last, the skies generously showered the slopes with snow, accumulating an astounding 303 inches for the month. March continued the snowy symphony with an additional nearly 200 inches.
Analyzing the meticulously collected snowfall data, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in the summer of 1999, officially declared Mount Baker's snowfall of 1,140 inches as a record for the most snowfall in a single year, measured between July 1, 1998, and June 30, 1999. While Mount Baker Ski Area is accustomed to substantial snowfall, averaging over 660 inches annually, the record-breaking year nearly doubled this already impressive figure.
Gwyn Howat, Mt. Baker Ski Area CEO, reflects on the geological uniqueness of the location, situated just northeast of Mount Baker. Storms sweeping in from the Pacific, funneled through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and guided by prevailing southwesterly winds, collide with the 10,781-foot Mount Baker. The moist air uplifts, cools, and gracefully descends as snow on the ski area, creating a meteorological masterpiece.
It was an amazing snow year," reminisces Matt Schonwald, founder of Seattle-based BC Adventure Guides, who, during that winter, was on ski patrol at Crystal Mountain—a destination that also reveled in a banner winter. The relentless snowfall, with temperatures hovering just low enough, created a winter paradise, avoiding the typical mix of rain and snow storms. Storm cycles lasting up to 10 days dropped staggering amounts of snow, turning the season into a skier's dream.
As we look back at the winter of '98-'99, it stands not only as a statistical marvel but as a testament to nature's orchestration, where the elements harmonized to create an extraordinary snowfall spectacle that left an indelible mark on the memories of those who experienced its grandeur.
Battling the Snow Giants: Behind the Scenes of Mt. Baker's Epic Winter of '98-'99
While powder enthusiasts reveled in the extraordinary snowfall at Mt. Baker during the winter of '98-'99, the unsung heroes running operations faced an unrelenting battle against nature's abundance. For the dedicated crew at Mt. Baker and other Cascades ski areas, the record-setting snow year meant endless toil to keep roads, parking lots, lodges, and ski lifts from being engulfed by the relentless snow.
As powderhounds braved sketchy road conditions and waist-deep snow for their adrenaline fix, families and fair-weather skiers, a significant portion of Mt. Baker Ski Area's clientele, found themselves intimidated by the sheer magnitude of the snow. Gwyn Howat, Mt. Baker Ski Area CEO, recalls the constant struggle, stating, "Just cleaning the chairs off of the new fallen snow from the night before was a monumental task every morning.
The ski area's operational team employed three snowcats in a desperate effort to combat the snow onslaught, plowing and grooming to prevent buildings from disappearing under the snow and to rescue lift towers buried by uphill snow pressure. In steep areas, century-old trees succumbed to the weight of the snowpack, snapping in half. In locations inaccessible to snowcats, the crew resorted to hand-digging towers out of the snow.
In a winter where the snow piled so high that trenches had to be scooped out on ridgetops for skis and snowboards dangling from chairs, the challenges were unprecedented. Mt. Baker Ski Area faced closure in February for the first time in its history due to the inability to keep up with plowing and digging. Yet, just two days later, it triumphantly reopened.
Amidst the battles with the snow giants, the highest-stakes challenge was managing avalanche risk. Gwyn Howat describes it as "next-level avalanche mitigation," with the budget for explosives to trigger avalanches above ski slopes tripling that season. Despite the diligent efforts of the ski patrol to maintain safety within the bounds, those venturing into the unmanaged backcountry powder just beyond the ski area's reach faced wild and untamed conditions.
One of the exciting things about Baker is it has always had access to really good backcountry just outside of the ski area," notes Jeff Hambelton, an avalanche educator and co-founder of Bellingham’s Elevated Backcountry. "It’s unmanaged terrain, there is no avalanche control, so it’s a very wild space, and very accessible." As the curtain fell on the epic winter of '98-'99, the tales of perseverance and challenges faced behind the scenes at Mt. Baker Ski Area added another layer to the legend of that remarkable season.
Uncharted Territory: The Backcountry Boom and Tragedy at Mt. Baker in '98-'99
Before the 1998-99 season, the realm beyond the ski area boundaries at Mt. Baker was the domain of experienced locals seeking the solitude of untouched snow. However, this tranquil landscape underwent a seismic shift that season, marking the peak of a backcountry freeriding explosion that has only intensified in recent years.
The surge in interest was fueled by the emergence of fat skis, revolutionizing the ease of navigating ungroomed snow, and the mainstream acceptance of snowboarding, catalyzed by its debut at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Films, some captured at Mt. Baker, showcased skiers and snowboarders tackling backcountry lines, creating a magnetic allure for enthusiasts.
Gwyn Howat, Mt. Baker Ski Area CEO, reflects on the influx of visitors during this unprecedented season, noting, "We started to see people doing things that were unthinkable previously." This surge in interest, however, came at a time when avalanche education and equipment were still in a developmental phase. The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, the predominant provider of avalanche curriculum today, had just been established.
The tragic turning point occurred on Valentine's Day 1999 when, after consecutive storms blanketed the region with nearly 20 feet of snow in two weeks, a group ventured into the backcountry area known as Rumble Gully. A massive slab avalanche, 12 to 15 feet deep and 150 yards wide, claimed the lives of 25-year-old skier Shawn Riches and 19-year-old snowboarder Justin Parker. Distressingly, neither carried an avalanche transceiver.
The incident prompted action. Gwyn and Duncan Howat collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office to establish a policy for venturing beyond the ski area boundaries. The result: those willing to take the risk must possess avalanche knowledge, a transceiver, a shovel, and a partner. Despite initial resistance, the community eventually embraced and even self-enforced these rules, realizing the necessity of responsible backcountry exploration.
The tragedy at Mt. Baker in '98-'99 left an indelible mark, not only on the hearts of those who lost loved ones but also on the community's collective consciousness. The price paid for unbridled exploration served as a catalyst for a paradigm shift, transforming the pursuit of untouched powder into a disciplined endeavor, fostering a culture of safety and responsibility amidst the exhilarating wilderness of the backcountry.
Pioneering Safety: Mt. Baker's Response to Tragedy and the Legacy of the Record-Breaking Winter of '98-'99
In the wake of the tragic events during the winter of '98-'99, Mt. Baker Ski Area took a bold step toward fostering safety and awareness in the backcountry. The following year, the Mountain Education Center (MEC) emerged as one of the first institutions of its kind, actively engaged in providing locals with free basic classes on avalanche transceiver usage and decision-making in the backcountry. Gwyn Howat, along with members of the Mt. Baker ski patrol, played a pivotal role in developing and teaching these essential courses. In its initial years, the MEC saw a surge in enrollment, with hundreds of individuals seeking knowledge and preparedness.
Jeff Hambelton, an integral part of this initiative, became an instructor for the MEC in its second year and eventually served as its director for a decade. Reflecting on the impact, Hambelton expressed, “The Rumble Gully avalanche helped draw attention in a very big way to something that we needed to talk about. There was an unprepared population engaging with this hazard, and Mt. Baker became a leader.”
Mount Baker's record snowfall, etched in the history books, was a result of an unusually cold spring in 1999. While typical warm March and April days might bring rain and initiate the snowmelt process, low temperatures persisted through May. Gwyn Howat, vigilant about the record, observed the unusual conditions. On May 12, after the ski area had closed for the season, 2 inches of snowfall occurred, breaking the previous record set at Paradise on Mount Rainier in 1971-72.
The determination of Mount Baker to claim the record prompted a thorough investigation. The National Climate Extremes Committee, dispatched from Washington, D.C., scrutinized the ski area's record-keeping, methodology, and the physical landscape, considering evidence such as snapped trees. Their unanimous recommendation led to NOAA officially declaring Mount Baker the record-holder on August 2, 1999, not just for the nation but for the entire world.
Reflecting on the profound impact, Gwyn Howat remarked, "It became part of our identity. It’s added to what Baker’s known for, it’s added to what our personality is, our sense of place." The winter of '98-'99 not only left an indelible mark on the ski area's history but also contributed to its transformation into a beacon of safety, education, and resilience in the face of nature's formidable forces.
As the echoes of the record-breaking winter of '98-'99 reverberate through the annals of Mt. Baker's storied history, it becomes clear that this transformative season not only left an enduring mark on the landscape but also forged a legacy of resilience, education, and community spirit. The tragedy that unfolded in Rumble Gully acted as a catalyst for change, prompting the establishment of the Mountain Education Center—a beacon of safety in the backcountry. Through free basic classes and a commitment to awareness, Mt. Baker emerged as a leader in addressing the hazards of uncharted terrain.
The cold spring that sealed the record snowfall not only added another chapter to Mt. Baker's tale but also solidified its identity as a destination defined by perseverance and an unwavering connection to its unique sense of place. The efforts to claim the record, verified by a thorough investigation, elevated Mt. Baker to a position of global distinction.
Now, as we reflect on that impactful winter, we see more than just snow-covered slopes; we witness a community that turned adversity into an opportunity for growth. Mt. Baker's legacy is one of triumph over challenges, a commitment to safety, and an indomitable spirit that continues to shape its personality. The winter of '98-'99, with all its trials and triumphs, stands as a testament to the mountain's enduring resilience and the strength of a community united in the face of nature's extraordinary forces.