Mount Adams – Climbing Notes
Mount Adams – Climbing Notes
Mount Adams Climbing notes shared by Mountain-Forecast users
Click here to submit your own climbing note for Mount Adams
(NOTE: Texts may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
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October 16, 2020
Steve Hovanes from United States
I planned a solo in August 2019 and stayed in the Cold Springs campground overnight. The area has been devastated by forest fire and the Cold Springs camp is a mess, but usable. The road is very rough and takes longer than I remembered from earlier trips. I was there mid-week and was the only person on the mountain, as far as I could tell. I attempted a new route up one of the gullies to Lunch Counter but turned back because of the loose rock. This mountain really is a big, loose pile and is definitely more fun with snow lower down.
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June 24, 2017
Troy Douglas Morrison from United States
Can you drive to the trail head or is there too much snow?
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March 14, 2016
Steve Hovanes from United States
A nice route variation on the south climb route and a way to escape the hordes is to go climber's left when the trail starts to climb. Continue around to the ice fields on the southwest side, then up and intersect the lunch counter and rejoin the south route. I was up in August and snow was hard until the sun hit it, so crampons are mandatory. Be aware that Adams is a large pile of loose rock and avoid possible rock fall from the rotten rock islands in the snowfields.
When descending is is very easy to be drawn climbers left from the lunch counter; the snowfield cliffs out if you head that way, so stay hard right.
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August 07, 2015
Tanuj from United States
I agree with taking the south climb seriously. Ice axe and micro spikes are a minimum to climb this mountain. You can do it but then you may not and slide down 500ft from Piker's Peak when almost there. Even in the lowest snow months such as August, spikes are helpful for steep gravel footing. You want your ice axe out anywhere above the lunch counter, even wh n coming down. Be safe. Enjoy and respect the mountain.
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June 10, 2014
jrd345 from United States
Long falls (over 1000') are possible on the South Climb route, and could result in serious injury. I have personally seen a climber fall over 800 vertical feet on the route. Don't climb it without an ice axe, regardless of what the above poster says.
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June 10, 2013
Mat King from United States
The wind at the summit was intense, much higher than this website predicted (50 to 60 mph instead of 25 to 30). Snow for skiing/glissading is ideal between 10:00am and 1:00pm otherwise its too icy or too mushy. There's a gear drop foxhole at Piker's Peak (false summit) and another wind shield foxhole on the real summit. Crampons are a must for climbing in the morning, ice axe isn't necessary but nice to have.
[Editor comments: It is worth mentioning that Wind speeds forecast here are mean speeds. Gusts are usually significantly stronger.]
(NOTE: Texts may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Steve Hovanes from United States
I planned a solo in August 2019 and stayed in the Cold Springs campground overnight. The area has been devastated by forest fire and the Cold Springs camp is a mess, but usable. The road is very rough and takes longer than I remembered from earlier trips. I was there mid-week and was the only person on the mountain, as far as I could tell. I attempted a new route up one of the gullies to Lunch Counter but turned back because of the loose rock. This mountain really is a big, loose pile and is definitely more fun with snow lower down.
Troy Douglas Morrison from United States
Can you drive to the trail head or is there too much snow?
Steve Hovanes from United States
A nice route variation on the south climb route and a way to escape the hordes is to go climber's left when the trail starts to climb. Continue around to the ice fields on the southwest side, then up and intersect the lunch counter and rejoin the south route. I was up in August and snow was hard until the sun hit it, so crampons are mandatory. Be aware that Adams is a large pile of loose rock and avoid possible rock fall from the rotten rock islands in the snowfields.
When descending is is very easy to be drawn climbers left from the lunch counter; the snowfield cliffs out if you head that way, so stay hard right.
Tanuj from United States
I agree with taking the south climb seriously. Ice axe and micro spikes are a minimum to climb this mountain. You can do it but then you may not and slide down 500ft from Piker's Peak when almost there. Even in the lowest snow months such as August, spikes are helpful for steep gravel footing. You want your ice axe out anywhere above the lunch counter, even wh n coming down. Be safe. Enjoy and respect the mountain.
jrd345 from United States
Long falls (over 1000') are possible on the South Climb route, and could result in serious injury. I have personally seen a climber fall over 800 vertical feet on the route. Don't climb it without an ice axe, regardless of what the above poster says.
Mat King from United States
The wind at the summit was intense, much higher than this website predicted (50 to 60 mph instead of 25 to 30). Snow for skiing/glissading is ideal between 10:00am and 1:00pm otherwise its too icy or too mushy. There's a gear drop foxhole at Piker's Peak (false summit) and another wind shield foxhole on the real summit. Crampons are a must for climbing in the morning, ice axe isn't necessary but nice to have.
[Editor comments: It is worth mentioning that Wind speeds forecast here are mean speeds. Gusts are usually significantly stronger.]
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