Mazamas — For the Love of Mountains
The South Side route is a high, gentle climb great for beginning climbers who want an overnight trip with fewer people and a more wilderness feel than Hood. There are no crevasses on this route. Be careful if you glissade - a twisted ankle here is a LOT more serious problem than on Hood. Skiers take note: this route can have over a 6,000 foot vertical descent in early season! Ambitious and fit climbers can try this car to car in one day.
Activity Notes
Approach, climb, and descent:
From the Cold Springs Campground, (elevation 5,600 feet) we’ll head up the main trail and look to camp at around the 7500-9000 ft. elevation. This is anywhere from just below the lunch counter to the lunch counter. It is a relatively easy approach and should take us only 3-4 hours to get to our campsite. On Sunday we will rise early enough to get ready by 4 to 4:30 am. I want to be on the trailhead and hiking by 4:30 am. We could go earlier if the group decides to do so during our meeting the night before.
Summit day, from the lunch counter, will take 4 to 5 hours to the summit. Plan to take at least 3 litters of water. This will be a long approach to the summit. The climbing gets steeper here as we follow the south ridgeline to the false summit (11,657 feet). From the false summit, it is an easy hike across the summit plateau to the true or middle summit. This should put us on top by 11:30 pm at the latest. Time on top will depend on weather. Arriving back at the false summit, we can glissade most of the way back to Lunch counter, if there is a safe glissade path. After we re-group, we will head down the mountain to Cold Springs Campground, then to the cars, and then head for food, drink and home. This should take approximately 2 - 3 hours. Note that quality leader treats may prove to be critical in reaching the summit. The total ascent is approx. 6,700 feet.
| Other Information | |
|---|---|
| Driving Distance from Portland | 100 miles |
| Driving Time from Portland | 2 hours |
| Expected Duration | Car to car in two or more days |
| Interesting Features | Spectacular Views |
| Relevant Books | Climbers Guide to the Cascade Volcanoes by Jeff Smoot Selected Climbs in the North Cascades by Nelson and Potterfield Cascade Alpine Guide: Columbia River to Stevens Pass by Fred Beckey |
| Relevant Maps | USGS 7 minute series, Mt. Adams West and Mt. Adams East, or USDA Forest Service Mt. Adams Wilderness map Google map https://www.google.com/maps/@46.199593,-121.4982232,14.33z/data=!5m1!1e4 |
| Awards Qualified | 16 Major NW Peaks, Guardian Peaks |
| Useful Links | GPS Track GPS Coordinates Map |
