Date: 2004/09/03 to 2004/09/04
Trip type: scramble
Special gear: ice axe, helmet
Total Time: 18 hours
USGS quads: Mount Adams East, Mount Adams West
Left truck at Killen Creek trailhead at 10:30 PM, got to High Camp at 1:30 AM. We camped in the green area just SW of point 6928. Left camp at 7:30 AM. There are campsites in the rock to the right of the route higher up, and more sites on the NW shore of the lake (at 7,505 feet) at the bottom of the Adams Glacier. We followed a boot track with occasional flags up to 9,700 feet (11:00 AM). We turned around here because we were worried about getting fogged in. Back to the campsite at 1:15 PM. I think it was about two hours from camp back to the truck.
The rock and routefinding were pretty easy but there was some exposure, it sometimes looked like a fall could deposit you on the Lava Glacier. The views from the north side of Adams were excellent, when I awoke the lowlands were covered in clouds, leaving only Helens, Rainier, and the Goat Rocks visible. And the Adams glacier is very beautiful.
References
- Book: Cascade Alpine Guide: Climbing and High Routes: Vol 1 - Columbia River to Stevens Pass
- Washington Alpine Club: North ridge of Mount Adams
Maps
- Greentrails map: Mount Adams (#367S) (shows trails to High Camp)
- USGS quad: Mount Adams East
- USGS quad: Mount Adams West
Travel Times
Total time on trail including breaks: 18 hoursAscending time (not including breaks): 6 hours 30 minutes
Descending time (not including breaks): 4 hours 15 minutes
Altitudes below are readings from my altimeter so they are only approximate.
- 2004/09/03: 3 hours ascending from Killen Creek trailhead to High Camp
- 2004/09/04: 3 hours 30 minutes ascending from High Camp to 9,700' on north ridge
- 2 hours 15 minutes descending from 9,700' on north ridge to High Camp
- 2 hours descending from High Camp to Killen Creek trailhead
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