Mount Baker Club Records, 1897-2002

Founded in 1911 by community leaders and local businessmen in Bellingham, the Mount Baker "Hiking" Club originated as a means to promote economic development in the city and its surrounding area. Under the leadership of individuals such as Charles Finley Easton, early members sought to attract tourists and investors to Mt. Baker by publicizing its natural resources. Early promotional efforts included organizing the Mt. Baker Marathons (the precursors to today’s Ski to Sea race) held between Mt. Baker and Bellingham between 1911 and 1913. From its inception, therefore, the Club’s interests and activities have been closely related to the development, conservation and use of the Mount Baker area.

Although the Club’s origins can be traced to 1911, the Mount Baker Club was not formally incorporated until August 1928. Under the leadership of presidents such as C.A. ”Happy” Fisher, the newly incorporated Mount Baker “Hiking” Club continued to emphasize pursuit of outdoor activities, focusing in particular on hiking and skiing at Mount Baker and the surrounding mountains in the North Cascades. During the 1930s, skiing in particular became increasingly popular around the Heather Meadows area on the lower slopes of Mt. Baker. In 1935 - the year that Bellingham’s first winter sports carnival was held at Mt. Baker Mountain - the Mt. Baker Ski Club was formed. Although separate entities, the Hiking and Ski Clubs remained closely affiliated for many years, sharing resources and the monthly newsletter, “The Rambler.”

From the Mt. Baker Club’s inception through the present day, its members have engaged regularly in camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits throughout the Cascade region. Destinations for hiking expeditions have included British Columbia, Mt. Rainier and the Pasayten Wilderness, as well as mountains and trails around Mt. Baker and the North Cascades. The Club has also been responsible for building and maintaining property in the Mt. Baker area, including cabins at Mazama Park, Glacier, and the Kulshan Cabin below Heliotrope Ridge on the Glacier Trail. Constructed originally in 1925, Kulshan Cabin was rebuilt in 1949 and maintained under joint ownership by the Club and the Associated Students of Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University).

The history of the Mt. Baker “Hiking” Club has been characterized by its members’ consistent interest and involvement in efforts to protect and conserve natural resources for human enjoyment. Charles Finley Easton in particular was an early proponent and supporter of plans to establish a National Park in the Baker region. Although the North Cascades National Park was established in 1967, Mt. Baker itself was excluded from this region. It was not until 1984, with the passage of the Wilderness Act, that Mt. Baker itself was afforded recognition and protection through federal legislation. Besides the Club’s interest in this and other legislative developments relating to the natural environment, its members have also worked to ensure the maintenance of regional trails and resources for outdoor recreation. Among the Club’s major conservation efforts was their restoration of a former forest service lookout at Winchester Mountain in 1982.