Since then, the fractured face of The Barrier has repeatedly collapsed, producing large landslides along Rubble Creek, most recently in 1856. Mt. Baker looms above the Vancouver skyline. This volcano has been built by numerous eruptions over the last 30,000 years. Its conical shape reflects its status as an active volcano and distinguishes it from more eroded, dormant volcanoes like Mt. Meager, Mt. Cayley, and Mt. Garibaldi. Mt. Baker is built by several processes.
Molten rock can flow quietly out onto the surface as lava.
Ash can be a hazard to aircraft and can create breathing problems for humans and livestock. Avalanches of hot volcanic rock and gas mix with water melted from snow and ice to form giant debris flows. About 7000 years ago a debris flow at least 100 m thick, from Mt. Baker, flowed down the Nooksack River all the way to Puget Sound. Likely area of ash fallout during a future eruption of Mt. Baker based on prevailing winds to the east. Mt. Meager, shown in this cut-away block diagram , is a dormant volcano.