Mount Adams

Climb Mount Adams With Alpine Ascents

The trip on Mt. Adams was memorable and a great adventure. Our guides dedication to safety was paramount. Camp had amazing views! These views were the highlight of the trip.

Overall amazing experience from the communication prior to the climb to the final good bye in the parking lot.

Mount Adams, originally named Klickitat, is the second tallest volcano in Washington state (12,281 ft). As a great summit climb and instructional course to prep for Mount Rainier, our Mount Adams South Side climb allows climbers to experience the lofty elevation of Washington’s second highest peak in a remote wilderness setting. With no prominent crevasses on the south side route, it is an ideal classroom for developing snow skills in a lower-risk setting.   With significant elevation gain on both the approach and summit days, this climb demands strong fitness which makes it an excellent test-piece for more technical Cascades volcanoes.

This two-day instructional climb will introduce climbers to ice axe and crampon use, backcountry travel and camping, movement on snow and self-arrest techniques, as well as climbing self-care. We camp at the “Lunch Counter” (9,250 ft.) on our first day and head for the summit during the pre-dawn hours of our second day. The expansive views from the summit include Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Hood, and are some of the most breathtaking in the Northwest.

Equipment & Meals

Provided: All group equipment: breakfast, dinner, and tents.
Not provided: Personal equipment & lunch/snack food. You are responsible for all items on the gear list. Transportation is not provided for this climb. Climbers will need to provide transportation to the trailhead.  A high clearance vehicle is strongly recommended for access to the trailhead.
Note: If you are a beginning climber, we strongly advise renting as much gear as possible. Specialty outdoor equipment can be quite expensive. Alpine Ascents and other local retailers provide quality rental equipment at reasonable prices. Other personal items are available through local outdoor stores.

This climb will be conducted by one or two of our experienced guides in what will be an unforgettable introduction to mountaineering.

Mount Adams

Mount Adams (Klickitat) is the second highest mountain in Washington, second only to Mount Rainier, and the largest peak in the state by volume. A member of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, this massive stratovolcano towers nearly 10,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Its iconic cone is situated just north of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge and Washington-Oregon border. Mount Adam’s high altitude and steep slopes make it the perfect training ground for ever higher and steeper Mount Rainier to the North.

Reading List

This is a highly recommended shortlist and we would be happy to pass on a longer reading list for those interested. These links will bounce to Amazon.com with reviews.

Selected Climbs in the Cascades
by Jim Nelson, Peter Potterfield, Mountaineers Books
Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills
Don Graydon (Ed.), Kurt Hanson (Ed.), Mountaineers Society, Mountaineers Books
Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue
Andy Selters, Mountaineers Books
The Illustrated Guide to Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue
Andy Tyson, Mike Clelland, Climbing Magazine

At appropriate intervals both our guides shared information of their past feats, the importance of rest step/breathing, the use of axes and crampons. Always felt I knew what to expect and to move forward.

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