adams ski advice

[Blakej]

I am planning on doing my first volcano plus first back country ski trip on Adams. The plan is to do the S chute on a sat and then if we are feeling strong go for the white salmon glacier on sunday. My big concern is that even though my partner has extensive back country experince in the rockies he has no glacier skiing experience. We are both knowledgable of glacier travel but from what I understand glacier ski travel is best practiced by the experienced. So is the white salmon mellow enough that it would be reccommended as a first time glacier ski? If not we will just go for s. spur then s. chute but I'd like to go for the white salmon if it seems feasible.

[eternalX]

Report on the conditions when you get back. Would like to do a ski down Adams this year again.

[mattp]

The White Salmon is overall probably a less serious ski descent than the SW Chutes. It is a glacier, and there are some crevasses, but the danger from an unchecked fall down the Chutes is probably greater than the danger of a crevasse fall on the White Salmon (I've done both). The South Spur (the standard or "south route") is quite steep for the upper several hundred feet below the false summit.

 

You've got big plans for a first backcountry ski trip. Have fun!

[Lionel_Hutz]

the danger from an unchecked fall down the Chutes is probably greater than the danger of a crevasse fall on the White Salmon (I've done both).

 

[Blakej]

Thanks for the info. Its always more enjoyable to push myself and fail at somthing big than be disappointed that I wasn't challenged.

[Gaper_Jeffy]

South Spur (the standard or "south route") is quite steep for the upper several hundred feet below the false summit.

Hmm, I wouldn't quite characterize the South rib as "quite steep". If you have intermediate skiing skills I think you'll be fine. Maybe you mean the SW Chutes? The SW Chutes are a step up but they really aren't that steep either. Has anyone measured them? I think the average angle is around 35 degrees, it's just they're sustained so it seem steeper. Here's a photo looking down them:

 

I do believe it's good to error on the side of caution when giving route advice online, though classifying the South rib as "quite steep" seems really off. As always YMMV.

[cj001f]

Hmm, I wouldn't quite characterize the South rib as "quite steep". If you have intermediate skiing skills I think you'll be fine. Maybe you mean the SW Chutes? The SW Chutes are a step up but they really aren't that steep either. Has anyone measured them? I think the average angle is around 35 degrees, it's just they're sustained so it seem steeper. Here's a photo looking down them

I think it´s steeper than 35. Regardelss, in goodcorn it´s not difficult. In hard conditions it´ll be different though.

[rbw1966]

I bet Mattp is referring to the upper portion of the SW spur leading to the false summit. I'll bet the angle of that is better than 40 degrees. The spur leading to the lunch counter is pretty mellow, though you won't be skiing much of that anymore this year.

 

I've skied the SW chutes and by any measure I'm a pretty mediocre skier at best.

 

The corn harvest this weekend was OUTSTANDING! SW chutes was in excellent condition. I recommend getting an early start and bring light skis (you are going to have to carry them a long ways).

[gapertimmy]

yeah rbw!!! way to get it. got any picts?

[rbw1966]

It was just me and the red heeler, INDY ("I'm Not Dead Yet) so no action shots. Sorry.

[Double_E]

anyone have any ideas how good the skiing looks, given the snows of April, for Mt. Adams for the weeks to come? am planning on climbing it either the weekend of May 21/22, or else June 18/19. my guess is that it might be sorta skiable the May weekend, but noway for late June. one friend I'm going with is on snowshoes no matter what (doesn't ski) and the other will be on skis no matter what (15+ years of BC experience) and i haven't made up my mind yet. I've got decent BC experience but only once with a pack heavier than 20 lbs.

 

 

another question.. this is from a post I made recently to a South WA Cascades thread:

 

i've been up Adams before, but never in spring and never w/skis. once the road opens to Cold Springs (whenever that may be), do you think it'll be skiable from the TH, or will you have to hike in a ways to get to skiable snow? i can't remember the lay of that land right there at all.

[Dave_Schuldt]

You will be walking. Check turnsallyear.com for the latest info.

[rbw1966]

If you are able to drive to Cold Springs you will be carrying skis. In May there will likely be enough snow to make the skiing worthwhile. In June I think you'll be better off leaving the skis at home.

[iain]

I have skied the s. side of adams in ice conditions and while low-angle, it is no pushover if it does not get the sun, or there is a lot of wind out.

 

The sw chutes are a cakewalk in corn, or a life-threatening experience in ice. You can often see how icy they are from a distance based on the amount of blue in the upper areas. It is the upper part that can remain quite firm.

 

Neither are very steep, but you'd be surprised how fast you get going if you fall on those slope angles. E = 0.5mv^2 + mgh = pain

 

In the right conditions, the SW Chutes is one of the finest moderate runs in the PNW. Enjoy!

[Double_E]

right on. turns out we're going the May weekend, but i'm taking the snowshoes I think.

 

three of us on Snowshoes and one on skis... should be interesting.