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Past Activity

Mount Adams Climb

  • Start date: 07/11/2026

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 07/12/2026

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Join us for a 2 day climb Mt. Adams via the standard South Spur ('South Climb') route. We will drive from Eugene to the Cold Springs trailhead, then climb to our camping area on the 'Lunch Counter'. From the trailhead a couple of miles of maintained trail leads to the steep, rocky, and loose climbers trail, plus/minus snow, and up the Crescent Glacier to 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 (<35°). 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 an epic glissade, one of the finest in the Cascades. Back at the Lunch Counter we will pack up and head to the cars and Eugene, a long day.

We will meet at the Cold Spring trailhead (for the Adams 'South Climb') at 12:00 PM on Saturday.
For those who wish to share transportation the suggested driver donation is $47.30.

Sign ups open May 28 (or so).

Photo by: Steve Davis

  • Event Leader: Steve Davis

  • Event Leader Phone: 832-527-1756

  • Event Leader Email: lunaripple1@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader: Sam Hillmann

  • Event category: Climbs

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location:

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 430

  • Season:

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Crampon-compatible mountain boots, wool or synthetic fiber clothing for all conditions (no cotton!), crampons, ice axe, helmet, backpack and gear for an overnight stay in a windy environment, fuel for melting snow (no running water), food for 2 days, 2-3 liters fluids each day, Obsidians 10 essentials, sun protection, personal 1st aid kit and necessary medications.

  • participant prerequisites: Excellent physical condition. Experience or the equivalent of the Obsidians Basic Climb School with ability to use crampons on the ascent and an ice axe for self-arrest and glissading. Willingness to spend a night camped in a cold, windy, alpine environment.

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 12 miles

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 6600 ft

  • Non-Member Fees: $35

  • Committee: Climbs

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

After a dusty approach, we crossed Morrison Cr. and started up the rocky, loose climbers trail to the base of Crescent Glacier. Happy to be on snow, we ascended to our camp at the Lunch Counter (9200') and set up camp in the persistent, strong wind. The wind blew hard all night and during the ascent to the summit the following day. We got a relaxed start up the long, moderate angle snow slope leading to the false summit, Pikers Peak. Despite being a little knackered at Pikers Peak, we could see our goal and headed across the saddle and up the final 600' to the summit. The old lookout building on the summit is still snow covered, but it provided a bit of shelter from the wind. Views were spectacular from Glacier Peak and Mt. Rainier in the north all the way to the 3 Sisters and Mt. Bachelor in the south. After eating a bit we headed back the way we came. Once at Pikers Peak, the most daring member of the party shed his crampons and took to the somewhat icy glissade chute. The rest of us chose to descend a bit before glissading as the ice can be rough on the rear and hips. In all we managed to descend in less than an hour what had take us several hours to ascend earlier in the morning. Once back on the Lunch Counter we snacked, hydrated, packed, and began the slog back down to the trailhead and cars. A great trip with a superior group. Steve Davis (leader), Steve Mokrohisky, John Kovari (all the way from Wisconsin!), Joel Rice.

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