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Past Activity

Mt. Adams Climb

  • Start date: 07/19/2025

  • Start time: 7:00 AM

  • End date: 07/20/2025

  • End time: 7:00 PM

Description:

Join us to climb Mt. Adams via the standard South Spur ('South Climb') route. We will drive from Eugene to the Cold Springs trailhead, then hike to our camping area on the 'Lunch Counter'. From the trailhead a couple of miles of maintained trail leads to the climbers trail, plus/minus snow, and the 'Lunch Counter' (~9,000'). Bright and early the next morning we will don our crampons, grab our ice axes, and continue the ascent up 2600+ ft of low to moderate angle snow. After gaining Piker's Peak (~11,650'), we cross a saddle and make the final push to the 12,277' summit and its fantastic views. The descent features epic glissades, perhaps the finest in the Cascades. Back at the Lunch Counter we will pack up and head to the cars and Eugene, a long day.

Photo by: Friendly other climber

  • Event Leader: Steve Davis

  • Event Leader Phone: 832-527-1756

  • Event Leader Email: lunaripple1@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader: Miranda Trieston

  • Event category: Climbs

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 430

  • Season: 2025

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Mountain boots, layers for all weather conditions, Ice axe, crampons, helmet, backpacking gear and food for 2 days and 1 night including ability to melt snow for water, 10 essentials, human waste bag(s), personal 1st aid kit.

  • participant prerequisites: Excellent physical condition. Conversant with use of ice axe for self-arrest and glissading, preferably have experience with crampons. Basic Climb School or equivalent. Willingness to camp overnight in an austere mountain environment.

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 12 mi

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 6600 ft

  • Non-Member Fees: 30

  • Committee: Climbs

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Our small team of 3 Obsidians reached the summit of Mt. Adams after a tent-flapping, noisy night at the Lunch Counter. We awoke in the windy, cold, pre-dawn dark to don our crampons and helmets, grab our ice axes and begin the long ascent up frozen snow to the false summit, Pikers Peak. As we ascended we were passed by an alpine Corgy making its descent, fully in its element and wondering why its humans were so slow. Another hour took us to the 12,281 foot summit of the mountain with the remains of an abandoned fire lookout (supplied by mule back in the day). Although the upper 700 feet of the mountain was shrouded by cloud, we had occasional glimpses south to the 3 Sisters and Mt. Bachelor. After a 2600 foot, bumpy, icy glissade from Pikers Peak back to the Lunch Counter, we packed up camp and made our way down to the trailhead, tired and happy.

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