April 2-3, 2016, Mt Adams, Some ice some corn.
4/2/16
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
3205
5
Trip: Mt Adams - South Side, SW Chutes Attempt
Date: 4/2/2016
Trip Report:
Inspired by the snow coverage described in a recent TR here,
We started from Pine Side snow park on barely snow covered road, ascending equally thin snowpack through the trees into the burn area, where coverage improved. We made camp ~1/2 mi above the south climb trailhead, near timberline.
Weather was favorable on the first day, but high clouds and surprise wind kept the snow cool on the second, preventing a thaw in the SW chutes that we came to ski. There were still good turns to be had below 8500'.
Gear Notes:
Atomic Ultimate 78s w/race skins and superlight bindings. Ski crampons briefly useful on the crescent glacier. Alu crampons for the upper S. side.
Camped with a BD betamid and tarp, totally adequate.
Approach Notes:
I recommend no longer approaching from Pine Side this year. Per another TR on TAY, the south climb road is snowed in about 8 mi out, but this will shrink and will be a much better approach than using Pine Side any further (unless you like dirt and brush).
Date: 4/2/2016
Trip Report:
Inspired by the snow coverage described in a recent TR here,
We started from Pine Side snow park on barely snow covered road, ascending equally thin snowpack through the trees into the burn area, where coverage improved. We made camp ~1/2 mi above the south climb trailhead, near timberline.
Weather was favorable on the first day, but high clouds and surprise wind kept the snow cool on the second, preventing a thaw in the SW chutes that we came to ski. There were still good turns to be had below 8500'.
Gear Notes:
Atomic Ultimate 78s w/race skins and superlight bindings. Ski crampons briefly useful on the crescent glacier. Alu crampons for the upper S. side.
Camped with a BD betamid and tarp, totally adequate.
Approach Notes:
I recommend no longer approaching from Pine Side this year. Per another TR on TAY, the south climb road is snowed in about 8 mi out, but this will shrink and will be a much better approach than using Pine Side any further (unless you like dirt and brush).
Nice. Yeah, you would have saved some miles going up the 80. Was up there on 4/3.
The forest service is ill-equipped and under funded/staffed to deal with sleds on Adams in the Wilderness zone and res. Is what it is.
The forest service is ill-equipped and under funded/staffed to deal with sleds on Adams in the Wilderness zone and res. Is what it is.
nice TR. thanks for sharing. great effort to top out in a normal snow year, this time of year. too bad about snow conditions.
I spoke with the wilderness ranger, Justin, last year about the sleds. Supplied photos. FS has some ways they try to address it that make sense not to disclose here. I've also screen captured bunches of shots of instagram users who happily post their shots of ripping up bird creek meadows and above and have their full name/business websites on their profiles. One is even a mountaineer/climber out of hood river. Seems like a nice guy from other pictures, aside from showcasing illegal adams riding. I'd be happy to share the google drive folder if anyone would like. I tried contacting Yakima Nation and leaving their wildlands person a message but i never got a call back.
btw draconian in summer? Never once been checked, and only saw a ranger once. I ended up climbing with them since we had the same pace, about 5 years ago and he never asked for my permit, on the way up, or when he came by as I took down camp later.
I spoke with the wilderness ranger, Justin, last year about the sleds. Supplied photos. FS has some ways they try to address it that make sense not to disclose here. I've also screen captured bunches of shots of instagram users who happily post their shots of ripping up bird creek meadows and above and have their full name/business websites on their profiles. One is even a mountaineer/climber out of hood river. Seems like a nice guy from other pictures, aside from showcasing illegal adams riding. I'd be happy to share the google drive folder if anyone would like. I tried contacting Yakima Nation and leaving their wildlands person a message but i never got a call back.
btw draconian in summer? Never once been checked, and only saw a ranger once. I ended up climbing with them since we had the same pace, about 5 years ago and he never asked for my permit, on the way up, or when he came by as I took down camp later.
I mean that they charge for permits and monitor climber use much more closely. Likewise, NW forest passes are heavily enforced at the trailhead, and wilderness permits are checked on-hill as well.
author=Patarero link=topic=36239.msg147785#msg147785 date=1459966238]
Nice. Yeah, you would have saved some miles going up the 80. Was up there on 4/3.
The forest service is ill-equipped and under funded/staffed to deal with sleds on Adams in the Wilderness zone and res. Is what it is.
Based on a recent report here figure it only would have been a mile or two shorter up the other road. Do you have different beta?
author=water link=topic=36239.msg147786#msg147786 date=1459968609]
One is even a mountaineer/climber out of hood river. Seems like a nice guy from other pictures, aside from showcasing illegal adams riding.
I know exactly who you are talking about...
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