Mount Adams South Climb — Monday, Jul. 8, 2024

We camped at Cold Springs campground so we could get an early start for our one day Summit push. It was holy heck hot so none of us got much sleep. We started up at 1:30 am and the snow was fairly manageable until Lunch counter where it really started to soften up. I am the heaviest of our group at 215 pounds and I was sinking in a lot more than my friends. More that once I wanted to turn around on the hill to Pikers Peak. It was brutal!  Once you get to Pikers Peak you head up and over the false summit and the mountain taunts you……oh hi here’s a dip down for giggles and then another 700 ft to climb in the slush. Challenge accepted.  It took 9 hours to summit in these conditions. For sure no speed records were set but I was happy to complete my goal. Car to car, 12 miles, 6700 ft to stand at the 12281 ft summit. Hiking back the snow was soft enough to glissade all the way down pikers peak. Probably my favorite glissade!  After that there were a few here and there but the snow was actually too slushy for several chutes. The hike back on the old road after the snow was brutal as it was an easy 80-85 degrees at 5500 ft. We all returned safely after a great climb and enjoyed a cold cider.