[TR] Mt Adams - South Side 6/17/2012

[diepj]

Trip: Mt Adams - South Side

 

Date: 6/17/2012

 

Trip Report:

Throwing my hat in for the June TR drawing with a quick report on Adams. This is from a few weekends ago so the beta is a little aged.

 

The road was open to Morrison Creek campground. We parked early Saturday morning and and skinned from there, with a couple short breaks where the road was melted out. The forecast was for winds light and increasing late in the day and through Sunday, with showers moving in. Plan A was to push from the car to the summit after dropping bivy gear at lunch counter. The sun was out down low and temps were warm. Early on the summit was clouded in but clearing as we climbed. We made average time to lunch counter and dropped the bivy gear. With the sun and warm temps we went through a lot of water and had to melt some more before pushing on.

 

Lightened by the gear drop and resupplied with water we set out up Piker's in increasing winds and gathering clouds up high. At this point most of the days climbers were descending and it looked as if we were the last heading up. After 2 hours, 2/3 from LC to Pikers clouds we closing in heavy around us and the wind was up. Based on the low visibility and late hour we bailed off and set camp at LC in a fast-blowing fog. With wet-out conditions full on we turned in early but slept fitfully in strong winds.

 

Morning broke to crystal clear skies but unrelenting wind. Things had crusted up pretty good overnight so we decided to boot the summit early, before the forecasted clouds and showers could move in. Setting out by 6 we were the first to the summit to enjoy views of Rainier, Hood and Jefferson. St Helens was hidden beneath the cloud ceiling west of the crest. We saw several groups of climbers making their way way up from below. We didn't sit long (couldn't stand on the summit, the winds were that strong coming up and over) before heading down and greeting many on their way up from LC. We broke camp in time for the sun to have warmed the crust enough to ski and rode back out to Morrison Creek by early afternoon.

 

Ski conditions were decent, night time crust made for tough conditions early. We were able to skin most of the road, but bare patches will multiply fast, while some fairly large drifts were still across the road. The approach will be interesting for the next few weeks.

 

Camp at Lunch Counter

Heading up to Piker's

Kelly on top

Skiing off

A last look

 

Gear Notes:

Skis, crampons, axe.

 

Approach Notes:

Parked at Morrison Creek. Roud was mostly snow from there but bare spots with be rapidly multiplying. Some good-sized drifts will likely keep cars from reaching cold springs for a few weeks yet.

[Couloir]

Excellent job you guys!