Mt. Adams summit 7/21-7/22

[wildmanoutdoors]

We did it in one day with our small packs and an Ice axe for the glissade down. We did Sept and did not need crampons. 13 hours up and down. From the counter to pikers you can go around the glacier. and stay on rock. Thats what we did. makes a little more distance though. Think it was about 12 to 13 miles round trip.

Completely doable naked!

[wildmanoutdoors]

Some more pics to get an idea of terrain.

[Moe the Sleaze]

Congratulations!  Nice pics.  I prefer the North Ridge, still pretty easy, but not so much of a slog.
However, if you go the wrong time of year the mosquitoes will eat you alive on the approach!

[D-Rock425]

A stang said he'd go with me on my naked quest.

[netcoyote]

Check with FS folks to see what the road conditions are from Trout Lake up to the Cold Springs trailhead. I checked their website and found no problems listed but I heard someone recently say that the road 8040-500 to the TH was either closed or undrivable (it never was very good on the best days). I think it was from damage by the fire in the area last year.

Have fun! It's a great trip. Been up their many times myself.

[jackelope]

Check with FS folks to see what the road conditions are from Trout Lake up to the Cold Springs trailhead. I checked their website and found no problems listed but I heard someone recently say that the road 8040-500 to the TH was either closed or undrivable (it never was very good on the best days). I think it was from damage by the fire in the area last year.

Have fun! It's a great trip. Been up their many times myself.

We went July 20 last year and the road was only driveable 2 weeks before that if I remember correctly.

I've never really looked into doing it.  How much gear does one need?

Most the stuff you can rent from REI. Crampons, Ice Axe, Tent, Jackelope says best bets to stay overnight to prevent altitude sickness, Which I probably agree with, Its what Ill be doing. Some rain paints for glissading. I hike with them up/down because I get hot and don't like many layers on my legs or I overheat, Then just basic gear, Trekking poles.. Atleast 3 liters of water.

Im sure he can chime in on this in on this in a bit to add to the list.


My problem on St Helens was I didn't take nearly enough water or food. I only had 2-3 liters of water and a few snacks.
Had to bum stuff off people like a bum, and melt tons of snow time after time.
I think going up I drank about 5 liters of water (Two full water blatters *2L each* and a few water bottles) and took in more calories then I do in 2 days normally.

As far as timing and whether or not you spend the night...I went with a couple ideas in mind. 1 is I'm slow relative to others. I can hike forever but I maintain a slow pace. I also like to be in places like that so we took our time, no rushing, etc. We enjoyed our time up there and were in no rush. I imagine I could do it in one day but it'd be a long long day. Not sure they make a bacon cheeseburger and a beer big enough to recoop myself after a day like that.

As far as gear goes....Smossy pretty much nailed it. Other than regular backpacking gear, we had ice ax, trekking poles and crampons. I probably used crampons more than most of the other people that were there. I used them because it made for easier walking once it warmed up and the snow started getting mushy. Once we left the lunch counter I ditched the trekking poles and went with only the ice ax. The ice ax's primary use is brakes when glissading on the way down.

Water- I brought 3 liters from the TH. 2 were gone by the time we got to the Lunch Counter. Bring a filter, there's water up there and there's a ton of snow to melt if needed. We brought some of the Goo energy chews, nuts, bars, etc. and a Mountain House meal. Random snacks are all you need otherwise.

Make sure you have a tent that will not flap and make all sorts of racket when the wind blows because it blows up there....a lot.

Any and all gear can be rented from REI or Marmot Mountain Works in Bellevue, and there's probably other places too. It's all mostly cheap to rent. I think I spent $40 for crampons and an ice ax and I had them for 3 days.

I'm spreading some of my dad's ashes up there this year. When I did this hike last year, he told me he'd do anything to be able to go up there with me. I don't think this is what he had in mind at the time, but it's all I got at this point. I think he'll approve.

[D-Rock425]

 

[Pathfinder101]

PathfinderJR and I did it last year too. 
No problem finding water at the lunch counter, you just have to filter/purify it.  I used tablets.  We came from the east side and learned that to rent stuff at REI in the Tri Cities you need to reserve it months in advance for nice weekends in the summer.  We had to go without ice axes or crampons.  I bought us ice cleats instead and we used our trekking poles for braking when we glissaded back down.  The ice cleats weren't a problem, but we waited until the snow started to soften up a little (8 am) before we began up Piker's Peak so we could get a better grip.  I wish I had an ice axe for the way down though.  PathfinderJR is less than 100 lbs, so he had no problem slowing down/stopping with his trekking poles.  No so much for me.  I broke a pole on the second glissade and got banged up a little a few times when I couldn't slow down enough. 
Also, don't let the cool weather fool you.  We forgot to put on sunscreen the first day.    Worst sunburn I have ever had.  We looked like lepers for a week.
If you are going during "prime time" and you are going to camp, try to get up to the Lunch Counter early enough to get a decent spot with a good windbreak. 

Have fun.  It's a great experience.    

[Rob]

My buddies and I are headed up tha last weekend in July.  This is a motivational thread!  looking forward to the trip.

[Rob]

Is Stuart a technical climb?  (i.e. ropes, pickets, etc)

[netcoyote]

Is Stuart a technical climb?  (i.e. ropes, pickets, etc)

The west ridge of Stuart is a reasonable rock climb for someone with some technical rock gear and experience. Approach is over Ingalls pass, traverse near Ingalls lake and then follow the ridge on up. It's a low 5 grade but ropes and a few pieces of protection would be in order. Water is scarce, but there is always a reliable snow bank higher up the peak where you can find snow to melt. Descent route is usually via the Cascadian Couloir. Be careful coming down. The couloir is steep talus and you can get out of control in a big hurry.