[TR] Mt. Adams - Lunch Counter via Cold Springs 9/18/2010

[LonelySummit]

Trip: Mt. Adams - Lunch Counter via Cold Springs

 

Date: 9/18/2010

 

Trip Report:

Disclaimer: Summit attempt - Not a summit.

 

Left the 'Couve at 6:00am in a caravan of Adams hopefuls. Departed the Trailhead at Cold-Springs campground at 9:30; the party of 8 was going strong on caffeine and Gu shots. BTW- The road from Trout Lake to the campground has a few potholes, but otherwise okay for even a minivan.

 

Weather was great for a few hours; but as the forecast called for afternoon showers and some cold weather, it did not let us down. As we approached 8k, clouds appeared and took over the view of the approach. We did eventually find the lunch counter at 3:00pm; and at that time the winds were strong and cold. Rain had started to make life suck as we entered the tents, all separated by the elements.

As 2am approached for an alpine start; with jet-engine wind and rain of the freezing kind, and we bagged the summit for a sleep-in cuddle party till 8:00.

Views were great at 8am, the wind was still strong, and the precip had stopped; thank god. With Sunday's forecast also calling for more rain; we thought it wise to just begin the decent, rather than attempt a late summit. Some of the group had summited before, so we knew of the time it takes to summit Adams in poor weather. Although it would have been nice to at least strap on some gear and head up to pikers; the group was ready to begin the wet hike down.

That night, temps dropped; so we did find some fresh hardpack and some slick spots on the way down. The group strapped on the pons, just to make it a bit safer; nothing like the quick slip to induce a sore back the next day.

Over all; a great hike up with some great friends. Some wet gear reminds us that a garbage bag is better than a $20 REI stuffsack. Also, trust the forecast.

 

Gear Notes:

Ev2 with broken pole. Crampons only to be a bit safer on the way down from the LC. GPS to find a better (safer?) way down from the ridge. Wind up radio to hear the Ducks beat the crap out of Portland.

 

Approach Notes:

Saw a couple dudes from Seattle and Vancouver on the way down; looks as though they camped a bit below us; also bagged the summit attempt. Did see another group of two going up on Sunday.

[111]

how was condensation in the EV2 for that long in that wet weather?

[LonelySummit]

Bad. I would think that they would have included a Sham-Wow with it. We try to remember a little cotton towel when we use it, but not this time.

[Water]

thoughts on adams this weekend? from the paltry webcam views available to me, it seems as if the go up to pikers never fully melted out, just some sections. curious as last year late season i was able to just run up there in trail runners on rock and sand, sans the flat ice between pikers and the summit

 

 

 

 

[PaulO]

Cold, bad wind chill...

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 32. West wind between 11 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

 

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. West wind around 11 mph.

 

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. West wind around 8 mph.

 

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

 

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.20573531548462&lon=-121.49333953857422&site=pdt&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

[Water]

twas great. never found adams to be anything but windy lunch counter and above, most of the time anyways. chilly when stopped for long. crampons were overkill unless heading up above sunrise, was able to stay on rock for the vast majority. (didnt have them anyways) up and down in 9hrs.