HHinkkala Posted May 30, 2016 Posted May 30, 2016 Trip: Mount Adams - South Spur Date: 5/29/2016 Trip Report: My brother and I decided to do a late spring daytrip ski on Mount Adams since neither of us had been there before. We drove down in the rain from BC Saturday morning and camped at the cold springs campground. Forgot it was memorial weekend so tons of traffic on the roads and on the mountain, much more then I'm used to... We left camp at 3:30am, summit at 10:30am back at car at 12:30pm. Ferocious wind at the summit, was afraid my skies would blow away as I was trying to step in...Top half of pikers peak slope was bullet proof snow/ice, lower portion down to the trail head was glorious corn. Considering it was so windy and cold near the top I'm not certain a later start would have made a difference to soften the snow up high. We had to walk around 20minutes on trail before reaching the snowline. After getting back to the vehicle we tried to take a shortcut by driving through NF-23 Gifford Pinchot Road to Randle, then to Seattle...turns out the road is completely washed out about 23miles in so we had to drive all the way back...Other then that it was a good trip. Pikers Peak long slope Windy and cold summit Quote
The Cascade Kid Posted May 31, 2016 Posted May 31, 2016 Were you able to drive to the trailhead? Quote
Water Posted May 31, 2016 Posted May 31, 2016 yes you can get all the way to cold springs. damn the snow down low is going quick. Quote
HHinkkala Posted June 1, 2016 Author Posted June 1, 2016 Yes you are able to drive all the way to the cold springs trailhead. The hike was about 20 minutes to reach the snowline from the parking area. Quote
Alisse Posted June 1, 2016 Posted June 1, 2016 (edited) Thank you for this update! So you only had to carry your skis for 20 minutes? Edited June 1, 2016 by Alisse Quote
HHinkkala Posted June 1, 2016 Author Posted June 1, 2016 That is correct, it was a short hike in running shoes before putting on the skies. Quote
Ianclimbs253 Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 Good to see the post! This is Ian who snapped that picture of you on the summit. Happy trails Quote
HHinkkala Posted June 2, 2016 Author Posted June 2, 2016 Good to see the post! This is Ian who snapped that picture of you on the summit. Happy trails Hey Ian, thanks for the photo and it was nice to meet you at the top. Cheers! Quote
NDrake Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 (edited) After getting back to the vehicle we tried to take a shortcut by driving through NF-23 Gifford Pinchot Road to Randle, then to Seattle...turns out the road is completely washed out about 23miles in so we had to drive all the way back... Thanks for the beta, very good to know for those doing an after work drive from Seattle on a Friday night for a Saturday ski. *edit* appears it will be out for some time: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=72029 5/31/2016: Road is washed out at MP 12, MP 18 and MP 23.4 This section of the road will be closed the entire Summer of 2016. Rd. 23 from Trout Lake to the West side of Mt. Adams (Takhlakh Lake area) is open , but has not been maintained and is in rough condition. Rd. 23 is currently open to Rd. 90 intersection for those wishing to access the Lewis River . View a map of inaccessible roads on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District to determine alternative access routes. Call the Ranger District at 360-497-1100 for additional information. Edited June 3, 2016 by NDrake Quote
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