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- Aug 29, 2013
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Goals, First Summits and Blue Skies on Mt. Adams
During the last full week in July, Mountain Madness guides Viviane deBros and Andy Dahlen led a group of first time mountaineers up Mt. Adams, the second highest peak in Washington State. Standing at 12,281 feet, Mt. Adams is truly a mountain of high altitude adventure while at the same time, a great goal and accomplishment for people who are looking to gain mountaineering experience.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=8bde60b7f630ae90892d5ed94f92bf6d 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=79116f68f29b6262021b9925987fee6e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=b2d95f2f38f4f6a915173a23912b68e4 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=4b71c377f366901c93f8fa494ee94ccf 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=fd78acb7771fd022621cb21c1c47b4c5 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=c61f9647f90b5f4dfda55abb5e9fceba 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=a33753b1e16c6f88fb8e75f7eeab4e01 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_two.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=e28e562848f473f86b83f48ba9ae0893 800w)
View of the Klickitat Glacier and icefall from Sunrise Camp. Mary Barron photo
The logistics for climbing Mt. Adams are somewhat more involved due to its farther distance from Seattle compared to many of Mountain Madness’s other summit climbs, which is why our group had four days to summit the mountain. The upside to the long drive down the Mt. Adams was that we all got to spend some quality time together before the trip started and everyone got to hear each other’s reasons for wanting to climb. Amanda and Jamie, our proud mom and dad team from Wisconsin, wanted to climb Mt. Adams as their first mountain to get a taste of mountaineering and to see if it was something that these ice and rock climbers wanted to continue pursuing. Mary, our Yooper (look it up if you don’t know), came to the climb with an abundant and impressive amount of climbing history but now it was time for her to make some history of her own. Lastly, the dynamic mother-daughter duo of Colleen and Claire, the Washington home-growns from the Tri Cities, who were climbing together because it was Claire’s turn to have an adventure with her mom. Next up for Colleen was white water rafting with her son! Overall, our group was fairly new to the sport, but everyone was excited and anxious to start their first climb.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=18da38dd37dcbd36dab79bdbff287a1b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=291d074bcb872262ae86037a50294904 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=f1c80a0852ab8462afd7f3e0353782d1 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=9326224ca39078eba6ebda6a94bafe77 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=cc6b66c50796a93360f1fcebe3d325c9 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=9d946780ae56e3199bcecccf5d7d844d 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=eab4f6f0a99e85855778f5aeb080193e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAdams_pic_one.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=558a18a827bd60d0db46f8f0ad311b45 800w)
Our first camp with our impressive view. Mary Barron photo
No one could complain about the view from our first camp. We established camp at a clearing on top of a ridge looking directly at our route, the Mazama Glacier, and also at views of the neighboring Klickitat Glacier and its impressive ice fall. After a warm dinner of phad thai, we escaped to our tents to evade the mosquitoes and nestled into our sleeping bags to rest up for our approach to Sunrise camp, our high camp at about 8,300 ft. In the morning, we awoke with the same amazing view, only this time it was the sunrise version. We packed up and headed out for a day of hiking over scree, dirt, snow, and ice. When we arrived to Sunrise camp, we were greeted with yet more amazing views and a great position to see the route that we would be going up tomorrow morning. After Viviane taught a snow school and skills session, we ate another warm and delicious meal, and nestled into our sleeping bags to get some rest before our big day.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=7653c3c255b11836d676720b8d91db3e 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=fb02b77391a90bc61134bf0f51a83e34 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=5d835982ead04e7ed43e971e5d61ed83 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=dc74eb4b1d27c9be94141ab1cb454b7c 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=6f4f9a2ad84f8b9303272d74c111faed 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=090f10b7f30fcaf8199369e420dbc70b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=b0d183512e0a898a25ec40f31d38c394 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_three.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=38366a39c3981fd3c0d40d76deb018c6 800w)
The start of a beautiful sunrise on the morning of our summit bid. Mary Barron photo
One of the hardest things for me about mountaineering is getting out of my warm and cozy sleeping bag at painfully early times in the morning, but the morning of our summit, I was ready and roaring to go. The temperature was rather pleasant, the stars were beautiful, and we barely needed our headlamps; it was a good way to start a summit day. To the top! We made our way up the impressive Mt. Adams via the Mazama glacier with our goals giving us the extra energy we needed to get to the summit. Everyone dug deep and found the energy they needed to make it to the top, which was great for Viviane and I to see. Helping and working with people to accomplish goals is one of my favorite parts of guiding because my clients get to succeed in something that they have set their minds to and we, as guides, get to help make that happen. It is a very powerful and positive experience to be a part of someone achieving their goal. I am very proud to have been a part of this trip and I want to congratulate everyone again on their summit, whether its their last or first of many.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=ad59a8155aeaa17fdc17c6e99a44af3b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=0494dcad164e294a40989ed84537c204 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=59ce19d685f4584fe9eee763079da360 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=27c36657cede64b33a9a2d33381d0520 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=849c484ec6608950f3562da8c672e2da 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=7103b6de8b45f8be20aea718eaf81563 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=4c27e172c9c9ce81337872b3aacd5507 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fadams_pic_four.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=aace176e6bd1f388d29e24249a73bdb4 800w)
Classic summit photo of everyone atop Mt. Adams! Mary Barron photo
~ MM Guide Andy Dahlen