Mazama Glacier Route Mount Adams - Where is Kyle Miller?

Mt Adams is the second largest Volcano in Washington State summiting at 12,276 feet. The standard route is up the non glaciated/technical south ridge which is always lively with activity on the weekends. Our crew consisted of five people Christy, Dustin, Jason and Josh Hummel and I. While normally it would make since to head up Adams in one day we decided to head up at a relaxed pace. Skinning in was uneventful other then the heat radiating from the sun. With a lack of wind our energy and motivation quickly drained away. Soon enough we were on the lower flanks of Adams. We chose to have a base camp somewhat in between the Mazama Glacier and the south ridge. This would reduce weight on the climb and take advantage of a snowless camping spot.

Day 2 Climbing the Mazama Glacier

Skinning up the next morning was easy with only a few bare spots. We would have to transfer our skis over the nasty sharp volcanic rocks. By the time we made it up to the lunch counter we were back on the standard route. In front of us we could see people snowshoeing, bootpacking and skinning towards the false summit. Climbing up Pikers Peak we decided to bootpack once the slope became too steep but that never happened.

Looking up the South Route of Mount Adams after climbing the Mazama Glacier — Looking up at the false summit from near the lunch counter

Looking up the South Route of Mount Adams — The true summit from Pikers peak

Heading From Piker Peak to the Summit of Mount Adams

The weather was bad past the false summit for the last 700 feet. What was clear skies became overcast with wind gusts over 30 mph. Skinning was difficult on the nasty rime Ice so I switched over to crampons for the final ascent.

The last pitch to the summit of Mount Adams — The final bit of climbing to the summit proper

Skiing Down the Mazama Glacier

Once arriving on the summit we switched our gear over in a hurry. After giving some beta on dropping the SW chutes we started making our way down. The first 700 feet was brutal inconsistent corn/rime Ice down to the false summit. After a quick traverse we were on top of a 3000 foot fall line of perfect wide open corn down the Mazama Glacier.

Looking at the Mazama Glacier Headwall while skiing down Mount Adams — The Mazama Glacier headwall

After a few crevasses crossing here and there and another quick traverse we were back at camp packing our gear up for the final run back to the car. The run down the road was uneventful and flat with more then a few dirt spots exposed causing us to carry our skis occasionally but soon enough we were back in the car on our way home. I was a volcano closer to finishing off my 25 Volcanoes in a Single Season Project.