Full Hike [CC]: Fabled Glissading on Mount Adams, a Cascade Volcano in Washington State, Part 1

This volcano—unlike Mount Hood or Rainier—serves as salient backdrop to no Pacific Northwest cities. Lacking paved roads and groomed trails, it is largely absent of casual visitors. Instead, most of whom venturing to its far-flung trailheads are bound for strenuous ascents. But with the second largest volume in the United States Cascade Range, Mount Adams does not need to force an audience. The standard/popular "South Climb" option summits via Suksdorf Ridge on the southern aspect. With middling 12-mile distance but 6,700-foot vertical gain; moderately steep 35° snow but absent of glaciers; premier, uninterrupted ski/glissade lines. The manageable route appeals to aspiring mountaineers, who can elect either a massive one-day effort (averaging 11-13 hours) or overnight camping at the infamous tent city "Lunch Counter." Mountain climbers heed the advice: "summitting is only half the journey." On Mount Adams... descending could be ALL of the fun. Imagine over 2,000 feet possible to glissade when conditions are right. If a lane does not yield fruit, simply move over to another. Perhaps fantastical but it is fantastic when one respects the mountain enough to finally make it work. Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vEV1eoPmSvs... Route: South Climb Trail Type: Out-And-Back Distance: ~12 miles Elevation Gain: 6,723 feet Location: Mount Adams Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington, USA Date/Time: 2022-06-30 0739 Chapters: 00:00:00 Title; Important; Itinerary 00:31:21 Round the Mountain Trail junction 00:58:47 Poles appear 01:24:30 Ascending ridge above Crescent Glacier 01:53:10 Last pole (starting trailless) 02:20:56 "Lunch Counter" 02:46:33 Ascending false summit Pikers Peak 03:13:09 Halfway on Pikers Peak; steepest section 04:14:17 Topping out Pikers Peak My Thoughts: With a strong push, I propelled myself down the 35° slope of Pikers Peak. It felt incredible, like a child experiencing the longest playground slide ever. Even though I clearly did not do a swell job that day, how could I not repeatedly try the best glissading in the continuous 48? Let us backtrack some. Once more, I found myself on one of the Cascade Volcanos. I kept coming back because of an intense respect for them. Or my egotistical realization of what they could mean: the satisfactory ending to the first phase of my mountaineering quest. It was proper closure only those solitary Pacific Northwest giants could bestow. Each of them put me up to varied obstacles; Mount Adams was no different. Relentless steep snow, huge vertical, frigid gusts. Successes, AND failures, I could lean on once stepping outside of the connected states. But, for now, a pivotal push out of dozen was all that mattered. #Hiking #Mountaineering #LeaveNoTrace