Mt Adams - Road into Cold Springs Campground??

[Tim Anstine]

I know that the USFS site says, "Roads to the South Climb Trailhead begin melting out rapidly in May. However, it typically takes to late June before you can drive all the way to the trailhead. This year it might by July." but I'd like to know if anyone knows how the snow melt is going? How many miles from vehicle to trailhead?

 

We're looking to climb this route mid June and just want to get a feel for how much distance we'll have to cover on skis.

 

Thanks,

Tim

[Reid]

I had heard 7 miles of road skiing before the trailhead as of last weekend.

[godskid5]

ouch, we had planned to do the mazama glacier june 2nd, but are putting it off until late june to late july now.

crazy snow this year!

[Tim Anstine]

Thanks Reid, if you learn any more details, could you please forward them to me? Thanks, Tim.

[cbcbd]

ouch, we had planned to do the mazama glacier june 2nd, but are putting it off until late june to late july now.

crazy snow this year!

You might as well wait longer anyway and get to go in through Bird Creek Meadows in the reservation - much shorter approach to Sunrise camp and the Mazama that way (and legal). Last year they opened access to the reservation July 1st - we were tempted to cut into the Mazama from Cold Springs a few days before opening but weather made us push it to opening day and I'm glad it did.

[dinomyte]

I was up yesterday, and it is a good 5 miles to the TH. At least, a little ways up from where you have to park, there is a sign that says there are curves for the next 5 miles!

 

By the way, you might be tempted to plow through the first drift blocking the road...and in a few days you might even make it. But, it will do little good as the next drifts are less than a quartermile around the corner, and you won't make it past those!

 

The shitters at the TH are probably covered up about 8-10 feet or so. It looks like they actually cleared the doors, but it lends new meaning to the phrase "deep shit".

 

Anyway, it's a long walk to the top.

 

I'll try to post some pics later.

[trumpetsailor]

How far from the TH does the snow become continuous? There always seem to be a few pesky drifts that make skiers sad.

 

Thanks!

[dinomyte]

It's "mostly" continuous from the TH down to Morrison Creek.

 

That said, there are several downed trees across the road and a few bare spots on the road.

 

I had a board, and it's not particularly fun from the TH down, but between riding, skating, and hiking it wasn't too ridiculous.

 

Hellacious ride from high on the mountain though. I'd say we had multiple miles continuous!

[kevino]

does hellacious mean good?

[dinomyte]

Well, only in the context of "multiple mile continuous." Or maybe that's good and bad.

 

After hiking 10 miles or so uphill, multiple miles down kinda burns.

 

No, it was good though.

 

Better than hiking by far.

[James M Schroede]

Any more recent observations?

[trumpetsailor]

Any more recent observations?

 

Sunday, the road was open to just shy of the Morrison Campground. A few longer gaps on SW facing aspects, but otherwise the road was easily skinnable. ~4-5' of snow at Cold Springs.

[babenders]

Any word on how Cold Spring campground looks now during mid July?

[bettyboulder]

Well, currently it is on fire (and therefore closed):

 

http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/816405#Post816405

[babenders]

atleast that should help melt the snow

[PHIXIT]

The road is clear of snow up to the campground:

 

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/current-conditions/mta-climbing-report.shtml

 

So hopefully this fire will die out and it will get reopened.