May 29-30, 2005, Mt. Adams, South Spur

Date: May 29th and 30th
Location: Mount Adams, Washington
Route: South Spur

I did do Adams Leaving Federal Way at 7:00 am Sunday, hiking up to South Butte when a Thunderstorm hit.
Left for top with friend and dog at 2:00 am from there.
My friend was hiking, I was skiing.

My friend turned around at Lunch Counter at 5:00 am just when the sun was rising.

I continued in perfect weather. Took skis off and put crampons on at about 10,500 feet to the summit. The snow was frozen hard, and just a little too steep for my skins. There were a lot of others going up at the same time. I went up the east side of the south ridge and was able to look down the Mazama glacier and see people coming up, and up at ice falls below the false summit. Eventually I reached the false summit. Then I hiked around the edge and up to the main summit. I really should have put my skis back on at the false summit.

My dog Chuck was waiting at the top of every summit and ridge. I was very disappointed, that he was more popular than I at the summit.

After loafing at the top for a while I talked to another skier and asked if I could ski down with him. And so we did. He took some pictures. The corn snow was perfect from the summit and on down. The steepest part is just after the false summit but you can see clearly the complete bowl and it flattens gradually as it ends at lunch counter. I then skied back to camp, and was surprised the snow was still good all the way down.
After packing up it was still good until the snow ran out at timberline camp.

It was a perfect time and place to ski Mount Adams. Almost from the road and perfect conditions all the way.

(Edit: added topic details - Charles)