AKA How to Celebrate 3 Birthdays with Strangers / Leave No (Wo)Man Behind
Mt. Adams Facts
Elevation: 12,280′ (3,743 m)
Last eruption: 550 BC
First ascent: 1854
Mount Adams is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range and the second-highest mountain in the U.S. state of Washington.
There are several climbing routes on the mountain, ranging from the "non-technical" South Climb, to highly technical routes that require advance skill, experience, and special equipment.
Because of the high elevation, all climbs have a measure of difficultly and danger. Weather on Mt.Adams can change rapidly. Sudden snowstorms can occur above 6,000 feet elevation at any month of the year. What appears to be a non-technical route can change drastically during these storms. Your safety will be the result of your preparation and good judgment. Climbers should always prepare for bad weather and an extended stay on the mountain. Purchase of a Cascades Volcano Pass is required if you are climbing above 7,000 feet elevation in Mt. Adams Wilderness, between June 1 and September 30. The Cascades Volcano Pass is a Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, see FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).
Mt. Adams was designated as a wilderness area by Congress in 1964 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. A Wilderness, in contrast to other federal land designations, is protected and managed to preserve its natural condition. It is to provide opportunities for solitude as well as primitive and unconfined types of recreation. Your actions will help all of us care for this unique area.
- SOUTH CLIMB- Tracks from Pikers Peak (False Summit) leading to summit of Mount Adams. (Photo by Gaston Porterie)
The South Climb is considered a "non-technical" route, however, ice axes and crampons are recommended year-round.
South Climb Trail #183 begins at the end of Forest Road 8040500. The three-mile section of the road beyond Morrison Creek Campground is extremely rough and narrow. Please drive carefully!
TIME: 6-8 hours up (ascending), 4-6 hour down (descending).
Many climbers begin their ascent one day, then spend the night at some elevation in order to adjust to the altitude, prior to beginning their ascent of the summit.
Lunch Counter, the relatively flat area above Crescent Glacier is the most highly used camping area learn more about how to have fun while camping at campingfunzone.com. Those seeking a more sheltered and less popular camp area may choose to camp below Crescent Glacier, in the Morrison Creek drainage.
1 12,270-feet tall stratovolcano. 2 days. 6,700 vertical feet. 20+ people dressed in neon.
This could be the beginning of XXX. Not to ruin the ending, but...we all made it. We summated.
In the I-climb-big-mountains scheme of things, Mount Adams is somewhere between an XXX and XXX amount of badassery.
Some fun facts: XXX
So...do you want to climb a mountain? Here's what I learned from the experience.
We had about 20 people in the group. Alex got us as prepared as possible with the list of all lists to climb Mt. Adams (share list). But...nonetheless, some of us were unprepared. I figure that with 20+ people in the group, we must've made most of the "common" mistakes.
Not by much, but here's what you can learn from:
What I did right/ my saviors:
- Crampons.
- Camelback/drinking H20.
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What I did wrong/ My mistakes:
- Snow glasses. Not sun glasses. I've learned the difference. Most importantly, you need glasses that are dark, fit your face well, are UVA/UVB protective and, maybe most importantly, polarized. CHECK
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We got incredibly luck weather-wise. Although the forecast was incorrect.
To recap.
The essentials:
