
07/22/2023
It was fantastic to summit Mount Adams with Josh and Stephen July 8th. Thanks to Josh for the relentless initiation and planning, and to Stephen for the steadfast encouragement. This was Josh and my second time up the North Cleaver and it did not disappoint, feeling quiet and remote for a Cascade volcano, we saw one other person while climbing on the northeast side. Hiking in from the Killen Creek Trailhead, the alpine lake at 7500 feet has to be one of the best campsites I’ve ever been to. The climbing? Let’s just say it is good that we are experts at ascending (and descending) volcanic pumice, scree, talus and boulders…. So many different sizes of loose rock 😂
It was a long day starting in the moonlight at 3:30am, climbing in perfect weather, across the mile-long snowy plateau, summiting at 10:00am in the surprise wind, with throngs of other climbers coming up from the southern trade route. Descending the ridge was a careful and exhausting process, but we made it back to the tents by 3:30pm. We then decided to abandon the swarm of mosquitos and conduct the march out to the truck, then drive to Packwood for Rainiers and showers— a true Gentlemen’s finish to the trip.
Long days with friends in the sunshine and the wild mountains — these are some of the best of times.