Hiking and climbing mountains inspired me into this life philosophy - LIFE IS A MOUNTAIN. Every step you make leads to summit. You may be forced to turn around or change routes for any cause, never know. But, stay focused and look forward. The mountain will be there always. Pace yourself and reach "your" summit, for every step counts. Enjoy the view and feed your soul as it comes along. Life is a journey, not a destination. Life is like climbing a mountain.....
This is a slideshow presenting beautiful mountains and landscapes from some of the hikes I went on in California and Washington
states.
California:
Yosemite, High Sierra, Mt. Whitney, Death Valley, Lake Tahoe, Ralston Peak, Maggies Peak, Joshua Tree, Anza Borrego, Point Reyes, Mt. Tam, McWay Falls, Point
Mugu, Big Pine Lakes, Sam Mack Meadow, North Palisades, Kearsarge Pass, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Half Dome,
Firefall, El Capitan, Clouds Rest, Mt. Hoffmann, Mt. Dana, Cathedral Peak, Mt. Shasta, Desolation Wilderness, Alamere falls, North Table Mountain, Phantom Falls, Round Top Mountain, Red Lake Peak, Winnemucca Lake. Mt. McCoy, Walker Canyon, Carrizo Plain, Tamales Point
Washington:
Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, North Cascades, Colchuck Lake, The Enchantments, Mt. Adams, Maple Pass, Mt. Ellinor, Mt. Washington, Sourdough Mountain, Hidden Lake, Skagit Valley, Table Mountain, Cascade Pass, Sahale Arm, Palouse Falls,
Snowshoeing
at Mt. Rainier! The mountain's still got tons of snow as of early May, 2017.
The weather was perfect....sunny and warm. There were lots of skiers enjoying
spring skiing, too. This is an epic adventure snowshoeing from Paradise to Muir
Snowfield via Glacier Vista, Panorama Point, Pebble Creek and the Sugarloaf.
Enjoy this amazing winter wonderland in spring and spectacular views of Mt.
Rainier and other Cascades peaks including Tatoosh range, Mt. Adams, Mount St.
Helens and Mt. Hood and beyond.
The snow condition was excellent though it got a little slushy due to the warm
weather. The road to Paradise is clear (required to carry chains) and the gates
are open 24/7 now. Check weather and avalanche conditions before you head up
there. If you are not familiar with Mt. Rainier, contact Mr. Rainier National
Park for information.
Ditch the crowd in Paradise! The hike to Pinnacle Saddle and Plummer
Peak is an easy short hike with moderately steep trail, and views are
FANTASTIC....and less crowded! Perhaps, one of the best and
breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier you can get with less effort.
To
get to Plummer Peak, go right/to the west from Pinnacle Saddle. If you
go left/to the east, that's climbers route for Pinnacle Peak and the
Castle. Soon after you trek down the trail from Pinnacle Saddle towards
Plummer Peak, from the main trail there is a sandy trail going uphill
to your right. Take that sandy trail to hike up the slope which leads
you to the route to Plummer along the saddle. You can actually see it
along the saddle if you look up toward Plummer when you approach
Pinnacle Saddle.
The trail runs along the saddle and sits on a
steep gully, but it is in good shape and solid. So, just traverse
carefully. Mt. Rainier to your right and Pinnacle Peak behind
you....wow, what a view! The trail gets a little rocky part of the way,
but fairly easy hike. In a little over 1/2 mile(?) from the saddle,
you reach the top of Plummer Peak. Easy scrambling is needed to get to
the summit rock.
Wow, sweeping panoramic views in all
directions!....Mt. Rainier, Pinnacle Peak, the Castle, Unicorn Peak,
Goat Rocks, Mt. Adams, Mount St. Helens and more peaks and ranges far
and near. I could see lots of cars in Paradise....crowded!
If
you want amazing views from Tatoosh range, I highly recommend Plummer
Peak. Perhaps, you can combine with other hikes for a day hike as it's a
easy and short hike. By the way, I noticed colors are
changing....summer is almost over! Get out there and enjoy every bit of
the summer hiking before it's gone! Cheers!!
Two thumbs up! Amazing hike. In just a little over 1 mile/1000' gain,
this hike offers sweeping vistas of breathtaking mountains, green
valley, lakes, wildlife and the towering peaks of Tatoosh range -
Pinnacle Peak, the Castle, Plummer Peak, Denman Peak, Unicorn
Peak....and more beyond near and far....plus, great workout. You may
say, "really?" And, my answer is YES!!
I always wondered if
there was a way to hike up to those peaks sticking out on Tatoosh range
seen from Paradise. To me, they always remind me of Gothic cathedrals
visually. Last month when I hiked to Unicorn Peak, someone told me
there is a short and easy trail to Pinnacle saddle. Since then, I put
Pinnacle saddle on my hiking list. When I read the recent trip report
on the hike describing the route is snow free and in good condition, my
spirit said "let's go!"
Pinnacle Saddle
Trailhead is
located right by Reflection Lakes across Stevens Canyon Road. Follow
the trail sign which says Pinnacle Peak Trail. The trail starts with a
gentle grade and soon climbs steadily. Snow along the trail is almost
all gone and there are some small patches left here and there. Glacier
lilies are abundantly blooming now in lower elevations and will be
bursting all over pretty soon. The trail is in excellent condition, but
partially a little wet, which is normal this time of the season as snow
is still melting. There is a couple of long stretches of snow still
standing en route in about between 0.5 - 1 mile from trailhead. But,
they are not hard to cross as the snow is firm and not slippery, and
boot tracks are solid. There are a few gullies to traverse en route,
and they have some snow, but no problem to cross. One of the gullies
has snow and scree (loose rocks) on the path and it was a little tricky
as the scree created loose traction. So, pay attention as you proceed.
In
1.3 miles, you reach Pinnacle saddle....the portal to many amazing
views and hikes! The trail sign says "End of maintained trail." Wow,
where is the amazing views?" Mt. Rainier? Pinnacle Peak? Unfortunately,
clouds were forming when I started the hike and by the time when I
reached the saddle, it was totally shrouded in the clouds! Darn
it....no views?...you've gotta be kidding!? I stepped over to the other
side (south) of the saddle.... Mt. Adams was faintly visible through
the clouds. But, wait....I could slightly see some blue skies to the
east through the clouds!
Pinnacle Peak/the Castle
You have a
couple of options for hiking from the saddle. Climbers routes run from
the saddle....going right (west) for Plummer Peak and going left (east)
for Pinnacle Peak and the Castle. Because I saw some blue skies to the
east, I decided to take the trail to east and hike toward Pinnacle
Peak/the Castle.
Bingo! The view gradually opened up in blue
skies as I came out of the shroud of the clouds. Wow, amazing vistas
before my eyes!....the Castle, Mt. Adams, Denman Peak, Plummer Peak,
green meadow and valley (Butter Creek Research Natural Area) down below,
wildflowers....and Pinnacle Peak looms right beside! In fact, the
clouds shrouding part of the valley and surrounding peaks created a
mystic beauty of austerity....adversity became advantage.
The
climbers route to Pinnacle Peak/the Castle is not too bad. It's dirt,
scree and rocks with a little up and down and over all in good shape.
There are a couple of sketchy sections en route, but not hard to figure
out the way. In about 1/3 mile from the saddle, you come to the point
where you may need to decide....either ascend the scree slope to the
ridge between Pinnacle and the Castle, or continue the trek toward the
Castle, or turn around. It looks there are several different routes and
options to choose from there, based on what you aim for with Pinnacle
Peak and the Castle. Assessing my capability (I am NOT a rock climber
or a hard core scrambler!) and visually evaluating visible traces of
routes and other factors (grade, scree, rocks), I decided to climb
straight up to a short ridge close to the west face of Pinnacle Peak,
instead of hiking further toward the Castle. I was hoping for open
vistas to north from the ridge. Ascending the steep route to the ridge
was a little tricky due to loose scree, but manageable. A little
scrambling near the ridge may be needed....I used my hands to grab the
rocks. Overall, the route I took was secure and no serious climbing
skills were necessary.
Take in the majestic view of Mt.
Rainier! It's the best view of Rainier I've seen among all my Rainer
hikes so far. The sea of clouds added a magical beauty no doubt. It
gave me goose bumps all over. No joke! Pinnacle Peak looms right beside
me and the Castle rises just to west from me. We juxtaposed all
together there. Totally amazing. Beyond words. The view south was
equally spectacular....Mt. Adams, Unicorn Peak, Denman Peak, Plummer
Peak....and Mount St. Helens joined the skyline, too.
If you
want amazing views for a short hike, I highly recommend the hike to
Pinnacle saddle on a clear day. You can also explore part of climbers
routes for additional adventures, either with Plummer Peak or Pinnacle
Peak/the Castle. If you are a climber, you already know what you are
looking for! I'd like to go back again to hike up to Plummer Peak next
time.
Wow, wow, wow! Actually, I wowed a lot more in this hike. Amazing hike
with stunning views of Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake ...and bursting
wildflowers. Mount St. Helens is visible even closer/bigger than seen
from the observatory/Boundary Trail as this hike lets you experience
trekking on Pumice Plain in the blast zone. Spirit lake is so blue with
eerie remnants of the past with dead trees still floating. Mt. Adams
looms big and beautiful just to east. Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood and others
peaks in the vicinity are also seen in this hike. This is very different
from typical evergreen Cascade hikes; and yet, it offers its own unique
beauty, geological terrain and dramatic history of mother nature since
the 1980 eruption.
Ditch the crowd in the observatory! It
seems the Johnston observatory and Boundary Trail are often crowded with
visitors whereas Windy Ridge
is much less so....and views en route from FR 99 are gorgeous. There
are also quite a few off-shoot trails and vista points along FR 99. FR
99 (paved) is generally in good shape, but winding and bumpy at times,
so pay attention.
Windy Ridge overlook....as the name speaks for itself, Windy
Ridge was a little breezy, but not too bad. in fact, thanks to the
breeze, the temperature was comfortable and no bug! I started my hike
trekking up to Windy Ridge
viewpoint upon the hill just behind the restroom. Take in the
breathtaking pano view of Spirit Lake and Mount St. Helens. Mt. Rainier
and Mt. Hood are also seen in clear skies. And, look east for Mt.
Adams.
Windy Ridge Trail....the trailhead is located at the closed gate on the other side across the parking lot from the restroom. Windy Ridge Trail is a well-maintained wide dirt road which leads you to a trail junction for Abraham Trail and Windy
Trail/Truman Trail in 1.75 miles. After a mile or so from the
trailhead, the view opens up and Mt. Adams and Mount St. Helens come
into sight....and wildflowers are blooming all over!
At the
trail junction, you have a few options for hiking in Pumice
Plain....follow Abraham Trail to hike up toward Plains of Abraham and
loop around Windy Pass to Loowit Trail (or continue to Loowit Falls), or take Windy Trail/Loowit Trail to loop around Windy Pass via Abraham Trail counter-clockwise, or hike all the way to Loowit Falls via Windy Trail/Loowit Trail, or trek Truman Trail back and forth in Pumice Plain.
I deiced to explore Truman Trail first, and then Windy Trail/Loowit Trail, and in the end try Abraham Trail on the way back to Windy Ridge instead of doing Plains of Abraham - Windy
Pass loop. Last month I hiked Boundary Trail from the observatory to
Truman Trail, and this time I wanted to explore the east side of Truman
Trail. Truman Trail traverses on the north side of Pumice Plain and
eventually connects to Boundary Trail which leads to the observatory. I
hiked about a 3/4 mile in and out on Truman Trail to see the north face
of the lava dome. It is interesting to see sandy ash and pumice
rocks/boulders along the trail. You can notice how nature and landscape
have been reviving since the catastrophic eruption 36 years ago.
Wildflowers are not abundant on the east side of Truman Trail, however.
Loowit Trail....back to the junction after Truman Trail, following Windy
Trail to Loowit Trail was a little tricky at the beginning because the
trail is partially washed out. Proceed to westerly from the trail sign,
but not to south, to find the trail. Soon after crossing the dry creek,
the trail appears obvious and easy to follow Windy
Trail to Loowit Trail. The trail goes up and down on Pumice Plain.
There is a narrow stream crossing and in 3/4 mile you come to Loowit
Trail. I trekked another 1/4 mile or so toward Loowit Falls before I
turned around. Enjoy Pumice Plain trekking up and down with wildflowers
decorating along the trail and the view of the lave dome. (it's huge!)
Spirit Lake is also seen down below to south and spectacular. Mt. Adams
also greets in the eastern skyline behind Abraham Trail ridge line.
Back
to the trail junction again from Loowit Trail, I took a short journey
up to Abraham Trail to explore part of Plains of Abraham loop trail. The
trail runs along a long ridge (south end of Windy
Ridge) and climbs steep at first, but no worries....it's short. There
are log steps connected by wire rope installed on the steep grade. I
also noticed traces of bike track along Abraham Trail which indicated
the trail is shared with mountain bike riders. Then, I realized the log
steps with wire rope are designed for both hikers and mountain bikes. I
didn't see any bike riders, however. (Perhaps, it was not weekend?)
The vistas from all along the ridge are stunning left and right....Mount
St. Helens/Pumice Plain, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and the valley down below
to east, plus bursting wildflowers. I didn't hike all the way down to Windy Pass as I ran out of time, but the hike along the ridge was great enough for the fantastic views and good workout!
This
was my first time to hike the northeast side of Mount St. Helens and
now it has become one of my favorite hikes. Although it's a long drive
from Seattle (well over 3 hrs!), this hike is certainly worth the trip
for what you experience. Go soon for wildflowers as they are in full
swing now. Make sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and enough
water for this hike as it could get pretty hot and dry under sunny skies
in summer!
This is an epic hike "if" it's done timely....before the snow melts away and the route to Unicorn Peak becomes rocky.
I
snow-hiked Bench and Snow Lakes Trails 3 weeks ago and noticed a pointy
peak looming by Snow Lake. It intrigued me and learned the peak was
Unicorn Peak. Seeing boot tracks heading up to the gully toward the
mountain peak, I figured that must be the way to Unicorn Peak.
Reading
the recent trip report and WTA's description, I decided to try Unicorn
Peak and set the goal to reach the saddle below the summit block. I am
an avid hiker, but not a rock climber or into a hard-core scrambling, so
reaching the saddle and get a closer view of the peak would be a great
adventure, I thought. And, the mission accomplished! What an exciting
journey it was! I am glad I did this hike while the route is still snow
covered (instead of rocky) and the weather was gorgeous with no bugs
this weekend.
The trail to Bench and Snow Lakes is mostly snow
free...just patchy snow here and there. The trail has some muddy spots,
but no biggie. Glacier lilies are popping out now and will be blooming
more soon.
There is one blow down blocking the trail, but it's
easy to get around. There is a creek you have to cross, which seemed
posing a little issue. I saw some hikers needing a help to cross the
creek. There were three options I found for crossing the creek
yesterday....hopping on rocks (staying on trail), big fallen tree (veer
to left from trail) or small wood piece (veer to right from trail). You
can follow the boot tracks based on which way you want to choose for
the creek crossing. I followed the boot tracks going right from the main
path and found the small wood setting over the creek. The creek seemed
relatively shallow there and not too wide (about 4 feet). See the pics
for comparison.
After the creek crossing, the trail becomes
mostly snow covered and leads you to Snow Lake. The lake is not
completely snow/ice free yet, but it is showing up more compared to 3
weeks ago (it was still mostly frozen).
From the lake, I
continued the journey to ascend the gully by following the boot tracks. I
passed by quite a few climbers coming down en route. The gully is very
steep. I could manage ascending the first half without traction device,
but as it got steeper and the snow was slushy and slippery, I decided
to use microspikes for ascending the second half. Hiking poles are a
must. Ice axe may be even better in case of losing traction and slipping
down the gully.
The view of the snowfield at the top of the
gully is spectacular. It's surrounded by the mountain wall....it made
me feel like hiking into a snow-filled gigantic stadium. As you
continue to ascend, turn around once in a while and enjoy the view of
Mt. Rainer behind you. Traversing the snow field, Unicorn Peak comes
into sight with another pointy peak (West Unicorn Peak). My destination was to reach the
saddle between the two peaks. The slope to the saddle is once again very
steep....and it was slushy/slippery in the late afternoon. I even
wished for crampons!
Take in the grand view at the saddle!
Worth the effort!! With Unicorn Peak next to you, Mt. Rainier to north
and Mt. Adams, Mount St. Helens, Mt. Hood and other peaks of Tatoosh
range to south are seen. I hiked down to the south side of the saddle
to get a better view of the southern peaks. From the saddle, the
climbing routes to the Unicorn's summit block are - scramble the steep
north west face, or ascend the snow covered steep route along the south
side of the peak, or traverse below the saddle to the east side for
scrambling. You should be better equipped with ice axe, crampons and
helmet to reach the summit block safely.
Descending from the saddle was a little tricky due to the steep grade
and slushy/slippery snow condition which presented a poor traction. So,
I ended up glissading down part of the way which saved also my knees!
Trekking down the gully was fair as the snow was not so slushy/slippery
and I could use the boot tracks as a step.
Unicorn Peak was a
great hike and adventure with fantastic views, though it was a bit
strenuous to conquer the two rather steep slopes. Instead of scrambling
up the rocky trail/gully after the snow is gone, I am glad that I did
this hike with the trail still snow covered. The journey to Unicorn Peak
gave me such an exciting hike similar to Camp Muir, but only in a
shorter distance! (5 miles RT) Two thumbs up!
I decided to return to Mount St. Helens again since last week's Boundary
trail (west) hike via Hummocks Trail which I really enjoyed. This time
I wanted to hike the east side of Boundary Trail from Johnston Ridge
Observatory. Also, this week happened to be the 36th anniversary since
May 18, 1980 eruption.
After spending a short time visiting
Johnston Ridge Observatory, I started out my hike from the trailhead
right by the observatory building. The trail is paved part of the way to
the vista point upon the hill and eventually splits into two
directions....one (paved) loops down to the main parking lot and the
other (dirt) continues along the ridge towards Boundary Trail (east)
which interconnects to Truman Trail.
As you hike along the
route, enjoy the breathtaking views of Mount St. Helens on one side and
the rocky peaks and mountain valley on the other. The views are quite
dramatic and show such a contrast....moon like terrains devastated by
the eruption vs. rocky mountain peaks with deep green forest.
Wildflowers are just beginning to bloom in colors of spring adding to
the scenery.
There was a sign which said "Boundary Trail is
closed at 1.5 miles/Devil's Elbow due to slides", but the slides area is
restored and safe to pass Devil's Elbow although it is very exposed and
sheer drop, so use caution when you traverse Devil's Elbow.
Take
in the stunning views at the vista point of Devil's Elbow....Mount St.
Helens directly facing to north, Pumice plain, Spirit Lake and Mt.
Adams. From this point on, the trail slightly descends and soon meets
with Truman Trail. There the options are either to continue Boundary
trail towards Mount Margaret/St. Helens Lake or take Truman Trail
towards Mount St. Helens pumice plain/Loowit Falls. I ended my journey
right before Truman Trail and turned around. The trekking distance was
about 2.5 miles one way from the observatory.
This is a great
hike with fantastic views without much elevation gain. With wildflowers
fully blooming soon (hopefully), the hike will be totally exquisite!
As I enjoyed this hike so much this summer to see wildflowers at Sheep
Lake, I decided to go back to hike again yesterday for fall foliage and
also to hike up to Sourdough Gap and farther toward Crystal Lakes basin
this time.
The hike to Sheep Lake begins at right behind the
toilet structures in the large parking lot/Naches Peak Loop trailhead on
HWY 410. The trail is part of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and runs
along right above the highway, which offers a stunning view of Chinook
Pass and the valley. It's a pleasant and gentle 2 mile hike all the way
to the lake. Fall colors are abundant along the trail. The lake seemed
quite busy with many campers yesterday. From the lake, I
continued the journey to Sourdough Gap. As you leave the lake, the trail
begins to gain elevation and gets steep a bit, but not too bad. I saw
families with young children trekking up with no problem. The hike from
the lake to the gap offers wonderful views of South Cascades including
Mt. Adams, so enjoy the vistas as you ascend. In 1.4 miles, you reach
Sourdough Gap, and the reward is the grand vistas of Sheep Lake down
below in the valley and South Cascades with Mount Adams and Mount St.
Helens on the skyline. On the other side of the gap, the PCT continues
north along the mountain range above the Crystal Lakes basin.
At
the gap, there is a side trail going up to the peak of the gap. The
route is rather steep, but scrambling is not necessary as the path is
solid with dirt and rocks in switchbacks. The 360 panorama at the peak
offers breathtaking views....Sheep Lake on one side with South Cascades
including Mt. Adams and Upper Chrystal Lake on the other side with Mt.
Rainer as a backdrop.
Back down to the gap, I continued to hike
the trail to the other side of the gap. Passing the gap, the trail
divides into two directions...one goes to the PCT north and the other to
Crystal Lakes basin and Mt. Rainier National Park territory. I took the
Crystal Lakes trail.
The view from the above at Crystal Lakes
basin is another reward with this hike....towering Sourdough Gap peak,
Upper Crystal Lake, and Mt. Rainier. The trail continues down to Upper
Crystal Lake, but I didn't enough time to hike down to the lake.
By
the way, if I can make an arrangement for two cars.....park one car at
Sheep Lake trailhead and the other at Crystal Lakes....I'd try hike from
one end to the other to cover both lakes (Sheep Lake and Lower/Upper
Crystal Lakes) including Crystal Peak. That'll be a fan adventure to try
in one day!
The view of Mt. Adams from Mt. Rainier has always impressed me, and this time
the mountain view from Trout Lake was just stunning. There are several climbing routes on the
mountain, ranging from the "non-technical" South Climb, to highly
technical routes that require advance skill and special equipment. Most hikers take South Climb Trail #183 to the summit. Because of the high elevation, all
climbs have a measure of difficultly (altitude sickness) and danger. Weather on Mt. Adams can change unexpectedly and sudden
snowstorms can occur above 6,000’ in any season. Your safety relies on your
preparation and good judgment for the unexpected. Besides carrying the essentials and extra water/food/clothes, ice axes and crampons are recommended for South Climb. I'd also add trekking poles which I find
always useful.
I made a day hike all the way to
summit and back, which was physically demanding. I arrived at the trailhead around 2:30 am, took a few hour nap in the car and began my adventure trek around 6:30am. 11.5 hour straight RT hike was quite
challenging with 6,700’ elevation gain in 6 miles. Most climbers begin their ascent one day and spend
the night at Lunch Counter about 9,000’ in order to adjust to the altitude. Lunch Counter is the relatively flat area and
surrounded by rocks above Crescent Glacier.
It is the most commonly used base camp of South Climb to the summit. You can also choose a more
sheltered area below Crescent Glacier in the Morrison
Creek drainage. Cascades Volcano Pass is required
for climbing above 7,000’ in Mt. Adams Wilderness between June 1 and September
30. Also, you need to sign in Climbing Register for your safety so that the forest service can use the information to check on overdue climbers. It takes about 5 - 6 hours driving from Seattle to
the South Climb trailhead. Plan details
and timing before you travel to Mt. Adams.
You need to stop by at the Mt. Adams ranger station in Trout Lake for
Cascades Volcano Pass and Climbing Register.
During the peak season, more than 300 climbers often aim to
summit on one weekend. That’s a lot of
people and traffic, which results in the parking problem. Parking space is limited at the Cold Springs Campground trailhead at 5,600'. Be prepared to park your car along the
forest road if the lot is full. You are allowed to do so, but make sure not to block the road. Also, note
that the forest road is extremely rough and narrow about 3 miles beyond Morrison Creek Campground. DRIVE CAREFULLY! Distance: 5.7 miles (South Spur) Elevation Gain: 6,650' Summit Elevation: 12,281'
Mt Adams Ranger Station: 2455 Hwy 141 Trout Lake, WA 98650 Phone: (509) 395 3400 Directions to the Ranger Station: At Bingen, WA., take Hwy 141 north 25
miles to Trout Lake, WA. Continue on Hwy 141 through Trout Lake, one
mile , and you will see the sign for the Mt. Adams R.D.
Directions to South Climb #183 Trailhead: Forest Road 80, to 8040, to 8040-500. Trailhead is at
Cold Springs campground just south of the Mt. Adams Wilderness where
South Climb trail No. 183 and Cold Springs trail No. 72 depart. Additional Resources:
Cold Springs Campground at 5,600'. Some climbers choose here for their base camp and aim to summit in one day instead of camping overnight at Lunch Counter.
The first 1.5 miles or so is a gradual ascent and you trek through the forest. Enjoy wildflowers!
Trail sign en route. Follow the trail to South Climb #183 to the summit. Once you clear the forest line, the area opens up and the route may be still snow covered, and icy.
Snowfield begins after the forest line. Important to remember the way you came from the forest. Some hikers sometimes get lost at the forest line when they descend back into it by keep going to a wrong direction. Make sure to get back into the right direction to return the parking lot. Mt. Hood (12,249') is over skyline.
Mt. Adams looms over Suksdorf Ridge at 8,000'. Lines of climbers and glissading are visible on the south face of Mt. Adams.
Surprise, surprise!?.....near 9,000', I was greeted by a local resident (marmot). Wildflowers blossoming.
Some campers choose to camp at lower elevation than Lunch Counter (9,200').
Mt. Hood towers alone on horizon.
View of Mt. Adams on the way to Lunch Counter.
The false summit - Piker's Peak (11,500').
Approaching Lunch Counter around 9,200'. This is the base camp for most hikers to camp overnight and adjust the altitude.
View of Mt. St. Helens (8,365') from Lunch Counter.
Time for crampons and ice axe around 9,500'. The route climbs up really steep soon after the snowfield above Lunch Counter. Be ready for this "butt Kicker". No rush, step at a time, pace yourself.....you don't want to run out of gas, nor get altitude sickness. Stay hydrated and have some snack as you rest.
Closeup view of the south face and Piker's Peak. Climbersascending, descending,and glissading.
After ascending the steep grade 2,000', you'd wish this is the summit....but it is NOT. You just reached the false summit - Piker's Peak at 11,500'. You have another 700' to climb to the summit.
Finally, the summit! 12,281'
View south of the summit - Mt. Hood (12,249') in front and Mt. Jefferson (10,497') in back.
View west of the summit - Mt. St. Helens (8,365').
View north of the summit - Mt. Rainier (14,410').
Back to Trailhead around 6pm. 11.5 hr RT hike was pretty rough and strenuous. But, it was worth it for sure. Mt. Adams.....it is certainly a great hike and a beautiful place on earth!
