Suddenly climbed Adams again. If you forgot or, probably, never know, Mt Adams is the second-highest volcano in Washington state, 3743 meters. It is covered with a nice glacier; no crevasses on the standart route; no need for rope, just crampons and an ice axe are required.
I climber Adams twice, in 2011 и 2017. Both times it was late fall, October, and fresh snow. Last time we decided, that Adamы run out of our road. It is not very picturesque, not very diverse (yes, we are here are effeminate with mountains), and required a too-long ride. Peer, actually did it twice after in my absence, but he is always easy for the long road than I am.
However, at the end of June, we had a guest from the East Coast, who wanted to get an idea about climbing mountains with glaciers. Adams is the ideal mountain to learn how to use crampons and an ice axe. Because of the reasons I mention above.
So, we picked up another comrade, who was with us on our first time on Adams and had time to forget the mountain and moved forward.
We spent the night in the hotel near the mountain; in the morning had coffee with croissants; and drove to the trailhead.
On the road Mt Hood demonstrates itself.
Mt Adams in all its beauty.
On our first visit, the lower mountain slopes were covered with green forest; on our second visit, it was a freshly burned area; now, the forest starts to re-grow, but plenty of dead trees still cover the view. Last year we hiked too much in after-fire windfalls.
When we came to the trailhead parking, I was slightly shocked. The parking is big enough; it is not a whole space, but many places for 2-5 cars along the road. When we were here the first time, it was empty; the second time we saw one or two cars. This time it was full. Not only by cars but also by tents. Well, normal people visit Adams in June, not in October. For me, October is better, but I am such a misanthrope.
We parked our car in the barely empty space, put our boots on, took our backpacks, and started our ascent. At the beginning the trail looks like almost a road, Well, it was a road half a century ago. How I found after our second trip, when we found the old cabin just on the top of the mountain, people did some business activity on the Adams despite its altitude and glacier. During the second WW, they mined sulphur somewhere in the crater, and after the cabin was built on the summit to watch for fire. Later all these businesses were cancelled, and Adams was left alone. Well, with all these people, who want to reach its summit. Including us.
On the way, we met snow goat. The front part of the goat was in a new summer coat, and the back part was still in a winter coat. Looked like it tried to step out of old cloth. Meeting with snow goat is a good luck omen, I believe.
We set our tents in the almost highest places, which people usually use for nightstands. Previously we did it much lower, but this time we needed a convenient place to trail our guest to use crampons and ice axe.
Luckily, we started on Sunday, when most people went down. So, it was plenty of place for camping.
Surroundings.
My Hood on the horizon.
St Helen.
We didn’t have such a beautiful sunset as the first time. Anyway, there were the longest days of the year, so we went to sleep before the full darkness (especially because of the absence of worthwhile sunset).
In the morning we woke up early, but still not in the darkness. Just because at this time of the year, there is no darkness at five am.
Ascent. Mt Hood is on the horizon.
Our tents below.
Way to the top. However, this snow pipe is a way down. If you are too lazy to move your legs, you can sit down and glissade down using an ice axe as a brake and bar. There is a huge ranger’s poster near the parking lot: If you glissade down – take your crampons off – give you a chance not to brake leg! How many people have they already evacuated, if set such a poster?
Ascended on the false summit and went down to the crater before the real summit. A mushroom cloud arose toward us. Unpleasant feeling.
The summit still ahead of us.
We are on top. Under our leg the chimney of the cabin.
And clouds.
Flow run of the pet.
Surrounding volcanoes:
Rainier
St Helens
Hood
Clouds were thicker and thicker, it was time to go back. At that moment the thunderstorm started, and we hurried down.
We descended under the accompaniment of thunder and lightening, fortunately, the rain didn’t catch us.
Had tea, packed our camp, went down to the car, and back home to rest and prepare for the next climb for our guest.
