Mount Adams

As planned, I did a climb of Mount Adams in Washington after the eclipse. Here are some facts about it:

1. Second highest mountain in Washington.
2. Summit is 12,276 feet high.
3. Hike is six miles each way and has 6,676 feet of elevation gain.
4. Includes a fantastic glisade on the way down.

Here is my video. Hope it isn't too boring.



The question for the poll is what do you think about Mount Adams? Multiple votes allowed.

Mount Adams is not one of the 50 highest peaks in the lower 48 states, but it is one of the top 10 for prominence. It is supposed to be a very broad mountain. Did you walk further on this climb than most of your other mountains?

Prominence feet - Mountain name- State - Altitude in feet
13,210 Mount Rainier Washington 14,417
10,080 Mount Whitney California 14,505
9,772 Mount Shasta California 14,179
9,093 Mount Elbert Colorado 14,440
8,845 Mount Baker Washington 10,786
8,339 San Jacinto Peak California 10,834
8,294 San Gorgonio Mountain California 11,503
8,258 Charleston Peak Nevada 11,916
8,136 Mount Adams Washington 12,281

In topography, prominence characterizes the height of a mountain or hill's summit by the vertical distance between it and the lowest contour line encircling it but containing no higher summit within it. It is a measure of the independence of a summit.

Very nice video! Thank you.

Mount Adams is not one of the 50 highest peaks in the lower 48 states, but it is one of the top 10 for prominence. It is supposed to be a very broad mountain. Did you walk further on this climb than most of your other mountains?

Prominence feet - Mountain name- State - Altitude in feet
13,210 Mount Rainier Washington 14,417
10,080 Mount Whitney California 14,505
9,772 Mount Shasta California 14,179
9,093 Mount Elbert Colorado 14,440
8,845 Mount Baker Washington 10,786
8,339 San Jacinto Peak California 10,834
8,294 San Gorgonio Mountain California 11,503
8,258 Charleston Peak Nevada 11,916
8,136 Mount Adams Washington 12,281

In topography, prominence characterizes the height of a mountain or hill's summit by the vertical distance between it and the lowest contour line encircling it but containing no higher summit within it. It is a measure of the independence of a summit.

Very nice video! Thank you.

Quote: Wizard

... glisade ...

Although I has a reasonably correct guess, I had to look that up.

I love Google.

Not only did Google define it, but it provided the correct spelling too!

Quote: Google: glisade

Glissading is the act of descending a steep snow- or scree-covered slope via a controlled slide on one's feet or buttocks. It is an alternative to other descent methods...

Thanks for the compliment! Colorado has a lot of peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation, which pushes peaks like Adams down the list in term of altitude. However, I think altitude is overrated. It is prominence that matters.

Thanks for posting that list. I've climbed every peak on that list except Elbert and Baker, which are both on my list.

I only counted 3 dead bodies, did I miss any?

It's more interesting when we see where you've
been, turn around more often in the middle of
the video.

Trail, what trail, there was a trail?

Invest in a good wind suppressor for your mic,
there is a lot of wind noise at times in your
videos.

I'll bet the stargazing on a clear night is
frighteningly good from the summit.

We know your wife is with you on these
adventures, show her sometimes. (I'm just
being ironic, we know a wife would rather
eat glass than do what her husband likes
to do)

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for the compliment!

You deserve it!

Quote: Wizard

Colorado has a lot of peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation, which pushes peaks like Adams down the list in term of altitude. However, I think altitude is overrated. It is prominence that matters.

Well it certainly limits your geography Of the 46 peaks over 14,000 in the USA are in four states
26 in Colorado
14 in Alaska
5 in California: Mount Whitney, Mount Williamson, White Mountain Peak, North Palisade, Mount Shasta
1 in Washington - Mount Rainier

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for posting that list. I've climbed every peak on that list except Elbert and Baker, which are both on my list.

Well, I should have probably finished it down to 7000' instead of 8000'. I know you've climbed some of the mountains in the 7000'-8000'. This list is lower 48 only. Now the list has 6 states.

Prominence feet - Mountain name- State - Altitude in feet
13,210 Mount Rainier Washington 14,417
10,080 Mount Whitney California 14,505
9,772 Mount Shasta California 14,179
9,093 Mount Elbert Colorado 14,440

8,845 Mount Baker Washington 10,786
8,339 San Jacinto Peak California 10,834
8,294 San Gorgonio Mountain California 11,503
8,258 Charleston Peak Nevada 11,916

8,136 Mount Adams Washington 12,281
7,838 Mount Olympus Washington 7,980
7,706 Mount Hood Oregon 11,249
7,568 Wheeler Peak Nevada 13,065

7,518 Glacier Peak Washington 10,545
7,196 White Mountain Peak California 14,252
7,077 Cloud Peak Wyoming 13,167
7,076 Gannett Peak Wyoming 13,809


Was Mount Adams your longest mountain hike?

Quote: Evenbob

I'll bet the stargazing on a clear night is
frighteningly good from the summit.

I'm sure it was. However, I never saw a dark sky except in driving to the eclipse the whole trip. That evening of the drive the skies where not clear, which explains why I didn't see any stars or planets during the eclipse. Blame the wildfires in Oregon. I think they would be getting attention on the news if it weren't for Hurricane Harvey.

Quote: Pacomartin

5 in California: Mount Whitney, Mount Williamson, White Mountain Peak, North Palisade, Mount Shasta

I've climbed three of those. But what about Mount Muir, which I've climbed. Actually, I know the answer -- doesn't have enough prominence.

Quote:

Prominence feet - Mountain name- State - Altitude in feet

I'll add which I've done.

13,210 Mount Rainier Washington 14,417 -- Y
10,080 Mount Whitney California 14,505 -- Y
9,772 Mount Shasta California 14,179 -- Y
9,093 Mount Elbert Colorado 14,440 -- N

8,845 Mount Baker Washington 10,786 -- N
8,339 San Jacinto Peak California 10,834 -- Y
8,294 San Gorgonio Mountain California 11,503 -- Y
8,258 Charleston Peak Nevada 11,916 -- Y (many times)

8,136 Mount Adams Washington 12,281 -- Y
7,838 Mount Olympus Washington 7,980 -- N
7,706 Mount Hood Oregon 11,249 -- Y
7,568 Wheeler Peak Nevada 13,065 -- Y

7,518 Glacier Peak Washington 10,545 -- N
7,196 White Mountain Peak California 14,252 -- Y
7,077 Cloud Peak Wyoming 13,167 -- N
7,076 Gannett Peak Wyoming 13,809 -- N

Quote:

Was Mount Adams your longest mountain hike?

I don't think so. Isn't Mount Whitney or Mount Shasta longer?

13,210 Mount Rainier Washington 14,417 -- Y
8,845 Mount Baker Washington 10,786 -- N
8,136 Mount Adams Washington 12,281 -- Y
7,838 Mount Olympus Washington 7,980 -- N
7,518 Glacier Peak Washington 10,545 -- N

The five peaks are all over the state. I was at Mount Olympus, but it was one of those government shutdowns at the end of the fiscal year and they turned us away. It's one of those rare mountains whose altitude is less than 2% different from its prominence.





The National Park Service says "Climbing Mount Olympus should only be attempted by experienced mountaineers who have glacier travel and crevasse rescue skills and gear."
Distance: 4-6 miles from Glacier Meadows to summit
Elevation change: 4,400 feet to 7,980 feet

But it looks like Olympus is an easier climb than Mount Hood, partly because of the much lower altitude