Mount Adams Climb and Ski Descent Planning
12,276FT / 3,741M | WashingtonMeet Times & Transport
Arrive the day before your climb begins and depart the day after your climb ends. The two closest international airports are PDX in Portland and SEA in Seattle. Our meeting location is about 1 hour from Portland and 4 hours from Seattle, pending traffic.
12:00 pm Virtual Gear Check
One week before the climb begins
Meet your lead guide on Zoom at 12:00 pm PST for a mandatory virtual gear check 1 week before your climb is scheduled to begin. This gear check will last about 1-1.5 hours. You are required to attend this meeting. Please review the Gear Check information and come prepared.
Your climb begins at 7:30 am – Meet in White Salmon, WA
The team will meet at the Inn of the White Salmon at 7:30 am for a 8:00 am departure. We will caravan from the Inn to the trailhead. A high clearance vehicle is strongly recommended due to the very rough road to access the trailhead. You provide your own transportation and park at the trailhead.
Your climb ends between 3 pm – 6 pm
You will return to the Cold Springs trailhead between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm on the second day of the climb. Your guide team will wrap up the trip and de-issue gear at the trailhead. Climbers do not need to return to the Alpine Ascents Office after the climb.
We strongly recommend flying out the day after your climb concludes. Climb schedules will not be adjusted to accommodate return flights.
Lodging
We recommend booking a room for the night before your climb and for the night your climb concludes. We de-issue rentals on our return to the trailhead on Day 2, so you are free to book lodging wherever you’d prefer that night.
Recommended Hotel – The Inn of White Salmon
The Inn of White Salmon is our meeting point on Day 1 of the climb.
Reserve online: Inn of the White Salmon: Boutique Hotel near Hood River, Oregon
12:00 pm Virtual Gear Check
1 Week Before Climb Begins
Meet your lead guide on Zoom at 12:00 pm (noon) PT for a mandatory virtual gear check 1 week before your climb is scheduled to begin. This meeting will last about 1-1.5 hours.
Gear Check is required. Attend this meeting so we can thoroughly check your gear, provide packing instruction, and review the climbing route and trip itinerary.
What to Bring: Please bring all of your gear to your virtual gear check. Your guide will ask to view the items on your webcam. You do not need to pack carefully, we look at every item together.
If you are renting gear from Alpine Ascents, you will need to make an appointment to pick it up at our Seattle office, up to 3 days prior to your climb. You are responsible to bring all gear on the gear list to the virtual gear check, except what you are renting from Alpine Ascents.
Having well-fitted, comfortable boots is essential for long days on the skin track and epic descents. We teamed up with the legendary boot whisperer, Megan Jackson, of Backcountry Essentials in Bellingham to outline the basics of boot fit. In the video below, she discusses physical aspects of selecting proper boots, supportive footbeds, crampon compatibility, and more. If you want to achieve true boot nirvana, we do recommend working with an experienced fitter like Megan to make the most out of your time on the snow.
Boot Fit Basics with Megan from Summit Exposures on Vimeo.
Check out this video for our 3 Day Rainier Climb, which talks through that climb’s entire gear list. Your trip requires some different gear, but the video should give you a basic understanding of much of the gear you will need for Mount Adams.
Gear List
Adams Gear List (opens in new tab)Our climbs experience highly variable weather. The gear list is developed for comfort and preparedness in all conditions. There may be occasions when required items are not used because of current weather. Your guide will adjust the gear requirements on Day 1 if necessary.
Packing Suggestions
- Line the inside of your pack with sturdy plastic (trash compactor bags work best).
- You will help carry some of the group equipment, so make sure there is some additional room in and on your pack.
- Read our blog post on How to Downsize your Pack to balance weight with luxury items.
Stoves & Tents
We will be packing in everything we need for our two days on the mountain, including tents, stoves, and food. The tents and stoves will be provided by Alpine Ascents.
You will need room in your pack for these items. Climbers usually pair up to share a tent to reduce individual pack weight.
Menu Planning
For this climb, you are responsible for bringing all your own food. Your guide will provide hot water for breakfast and dinner, so please bring dehydrated or add-water-only meals for those.
Your lunches should be quick to eat and not require the use of a stove while on the mountain. We do not stop for long “lunch breaks.” For most climbs in the alpine environment, we eat approximately every hour during brief rest breaks. This constant intake is the most efficient way to fuel our bodies and meter our energy output as we climb.
Basic Principles
A climbing or backpacking outing in the wilderness requires higher energy expenditure on a daily basis than what you may be used to. Eating well and frequently not only sustains energy levels but also boosts morale and attitude. In addition, mountains often challenge climbers with inclement weather. It is important that caloric intake be high and regular to help avoid hypothermia and other cold weather or altitude-related problems.
Consider foods which are light and compact. Balance this consideration with nutritional needs and packing foods which taste good to you. Packaging should be minimal, but without sacrificing good organization and weather-protection.
For this climb and ski descent you will need:
1 Breakfast
2 Lunches
1 Dehydrated Dinner
Day 1: Climb from trailhead (5,600 ft) to Lunch Counter (9,400 ft)
Plan to bring approximately 1000 calories of lunch food and 1000 calories for dinner for this day:
- Cold pizza or fresh sandwich
- Bagel with meat & cheese
- Your favorite candy bar
- Piece of fresh fruit
- Cold drink mix for your water
- A freeze-dried or dehydrated dinner
Day 2: Summit day (12,276 ft) & descend to trailhead (5,600 ft)
Plan to bring approximately 500 calories for breakfast and 1200 calories of lunch food for this day.
- 2 packets of instant oatmeal
- 2 instant coffee packets
- 4 energy bars
- 2 energy gels
- Your favorite candy bar
- Canister of Pringles
Bring one instant or add-hot-water breakfast, such as:
- 1 cup of granola + freeze dried fruit + 3 tablespoons of powdered milk mixed with hot water
- 2 packs of instant oatmeal + dried fruit + nut butter
- Dehydrated breakfast meal (check serving and calories)
- 2 packs of instant grits + bacon crumbles + cheese + butter + salt and pepper to taste
Lunch begins just after breakfast and ends just before dinner. It is the most important meal of the day and needs to have enough variety to keep you happy over your trip. Continuous eating of small quantities will keep up your energy levels for the whole day, especially on big travel/summit days where we will be on the move for 8 hours or more.
This list is intended as a sample packing/shopping list to create a complete “lunch bag” suitable for a 2-day climb. These items can be used in conjunction or as a substitute for the above menu sample.
Jerky (Beef, Turkey, or Soy) 2 oz Bag
Trail Mix 1 cup
Salty Snack Mix 1 cup
Energy Bars 1 Bar
Corn Nuts 1 Packet
Large Cookies 1 Pack
Candy Bars 1 Bar
Granola Bars 1 Bar
Crackers (Peanut butter or Cheese 1 Package
Bagels (1 per day) 2 Bagels
String Cheese 2 sticks
Mini Cheese Rounds 1 Round
Mixed Dried Fruit 1/8 qt Bag
Hard Candy 1/8 qt Bag
Cold Drink Mix (w/ electrolytes) 2 Packets
Energy Gel 1 Packet
Gallon Zip-lock Bag 2 Bags
Not sure where to start? Check out this video to see what we pack for lunch on a 3 Day Mount Rainier climb. It’s a great starting point for planning your own mountain menu.
Bring your favorite dehydrated or freeze-dried meal. Consider bringing a condiment or a packet of salmon to spruce it up! Your guide will provide hot water.
On the Mountain
Sleeping arrangements: 2 per tent.
Bathroom: Go Anywhere Waste Kits (pack it out).
Cell coverage: Sporadic service with various providers. Clear days offer better cellular reception.
Leave No Trace
Alpine Ascents International practices Leave No Trace principles on all expeditions. As guides, we spend time teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices. There is nothing more rewarding than working hard to get high into the mountains, reaching a pristine campsite, witnessing incredible views, and having the feeling that no one has been there before. Please read the seven LNT principles, and call the office if you have any questions about what you can do to plan ahead.
Tipping
Guides are permitted to accept and greatly appreciate tips. The amount of tip is at your discretion, but tips for excellent service normally average 10-15% of the cost of the program, or $100-150. Our guides pool tips and share them equally.
Please be aware that we are unable to process tips by card. You are welcome to tip your guides with cash or via mobile payment such as Venmo or PayPal.
