June 8, 2007, - Mt. Adams - South Spur

Quick TR for now, hopefully embellished with photos in the future: Played hooky from work to catch the Friday weather window. Parked at the snow "closure" ~2 miles from the trailhead that my Escort couldn't get through (at 1 am Friday morning),  but can now (anything with any extra clearance got through easily to the trailhead).  Left the car at 3:30 am. Ascent went relatively easily, if slowly due to the elevation above 10k or so - only about ten people on the mountain - almost all of them climbing/skiing alone. Crampons made the ascent happy. Topped out at 12:47. Skied off the summit somewhat later (~1:30?). The upper chutes coming off the summit were littered with big (~12" diameter) chickenheads. A skier climbing up as I descended was convinced that I wouldn't be able to ski it.  I did  ;D (the surfaces of the chickenheads had softened in the sun). The descent from Piker's Peak alternated heavenly corn and well-softened crusty icy stuff. Super fun. Missed my planned route toward South Butte in the clouds, so I followed the more standard route down. The Crescent Glacier is dirty, runneled, and holy. I marveled at the fresh tracks that others had put in on its surface as I pursued an alternate (boots were involved) way down. I followed some astute looking older ski tracks into an enjoyable maze of linked-patch skiing most of the way back to the trailhead. The links between many of the patches won't survive the weekend (indeed, some were already absent.... )  Quite a few folks came up for a Saturday climb - I hope the weather holds out!

Lots o' fun, I can't wait to get back and ski the SW chutes.