Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: September 10, 2002
This was my first summit. I was in a group of 4 consisting of my friend, her friend and her mother. We set out around 10:30 or so from the Climber's Bivouac. Beyond treeline the worn path ends and it's pretty much every scrambler for themself over the sharp rocks. The rocks turn out to be a blessing however when you approach the top since it turns to ash as you come over the last ridge. You take a step back for every two forward. It's all worth it as you crest the top however as the destruction of the blast and crater itself stretch out before you. The views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams were outstanding that day. Mt. Hood was also visible though only in outline due to a bit of haze to the south. We summited around 4 pm and made it back to the car in 2 and a half hours. Bring Trekking Poles though because the ash is great for foot skiing on the way down.
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: August 4, 2002
A nice summer day it certainly was not! Climbed with 12 yo son, 15 yo daughter, wife and friends. His 2nd summit in 6 weeks (see my other entry). Rain at Climbers Bivouac turned to hail, sleet and eventually snow when we reached the summit. Luckily, we were well prepared and warmly clothed except for forgetting an extra pair of gloves. Gale force winds the last 1000 feet to summit. Wind chill of around zero degrees. We saw some climbers who had turned back. But, many also continued on. Visibility of less than 50 feet. Couldn't even see into the crater. The route was snow free and completely different from our earlier climb. Despite the weather everyone had a fun time and we're psyched to do it again next year.
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: June 22, 2002
A gorgeous day on the mountain. First summit ever for my 12 yo son Jonathan and me. We climbed hand-in-hand the last few steps. Climbers Bivouac had just been plowed out the weekend before and the route was snow covered all the way to the summit. Bright sun and light winds at the summit. The view was spectacular - Rainier, Adams, and Hood. Jonathan especially enjoyed glissading down - especially the last pitch from Monitor Ridge back down to timberline. A day we'll never forget!!
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: July 16, 2001
We left the Climbers Bivouac at 0600 to head up Monitor Ridge. After breaking treeline, the weather started to worsen and we got rain and sleet. By 7500 feet, it was snowing pretty hard and most of the rocks were covered with rime ice. At this point, every party ahead of us was turning back. We decided to press on and see how far we could get. Eventually, we came to the summit crater rim, snapped some quick photos, and beat feet for lower elevation and fairer weather conditions. The summit views were less than spectacular, but we did get a sense of accomplishment for having endured the weather.
Route Climbed: monitor ridge Date Climbed: june 27, 1999
The road to the climbers bivouac (3800') got plowed out the day before, saving many miles. We were informed of a situation, an overdue climber, separated from his party. Skamania county sheriff made us promise to walk him out if we saw him on the way to timberline camp.(4800') We saw no one, and were informed via cell phone that 'tom' had wandered out on his own. Two lonely mountaineers having too much fun telling stories instead of sleeping. Got going at 3:30 am. Didn't even need headlamps because of ambient june light. Some ridge scrambling, and a lot of snow. The last 800' had a stairway to the top, thank goodness. It was rock hard and we were cramponless. I can't believe we had the whole summit to ourselves! Frozen but happy, we started waking people up on the phone. Apparently, 7:00 am is too early to call on a Sunday. The fog, the sunrise, the avalanches in the crater, the other volcanoes, and the solitude all added up to an incredible climb. Irritated several groups trying to be the first up the mountain that day. We're view hogs! Back home to our wives in only 26 hours.
Route Climbed: monitor ridge Date Climbed: 7/21/02
My wife and I camped at timberline Saturday night and summited Sunday morning. There was a group of 34 on the summit with us!!!!!! I do not know what the heck a group so large was doing up there, or why they were allowed more like?!?!. My friend proposed to his girlfriend on the summit-pretty exciting. That was my 5th time up-it doesn't get old! Route is snowfree, bugs were horrendous at timberline!
Route Climbed: Ptarmigan Trail to Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: July 12, 2002
I left at 3:00AM from below the Climber's Bivouac and summited at 5:00AM in time for sunrise over Mount Adams. I enjoyed solitude for most of the morning until the Bivouac party crowd started to arrive (one guy had a cigarette and Bud Light after summiting at 9:30AM). I noticed that the off trail sediment is extremely loose and likely to slide significantly in the future.
Route Climbed: Ptarmigan trail to Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: June 15th,2002
Climber's bivouac parking lot opened Friday afternoon. Skinned up through the trees, snow is thin and trashed with branches/cones/etc. Upper mountain was fun skiing down (corn snow, heavy in places). Got too far west and had to bushwack over lava ridges. Ugh!
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: June 3, 2002
My first ski mountaineering experience. Hauled my skis to the summit but my skiing abilities & noodly BC boards were unable to cope with the extremely sun-cupped conditions--ended up walking nearly the entire descent, turning into a really LONG day.
Had BEAUTIFUL weather with good views of Rainier, Adams, Hood, and Jefferson. All in all, a GREAT day!
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: May 11, 2002
Ski ascent/Descent
Had to take skiis of around 6500 feet and haul from there. Beautiful day, and it was the last weekend of no limits on climbers passes so everyone was up there.
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: May 11, 2002
Ski ascent/Descent
Had to take skiis of around 6500 feet and haul from there. Beautiful day, and it was the last weekend of no limits on climbers passes so everyone was up there.
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: August 22nd, 1994
What an amazing hike! I remember it like it was yesterday. It was so awesome to look down into the steaming crater. If you have the chance to climb this volcano then I highly recommend that you do. Being above the clouds on that ash covered trail is really awesome!
Route Climbed: Work Flows Date Climbed: April 7, 2002
Headed down Saturday afternoon and got to the the Marble Mountain Sno Park that evening. Started at 730am in rain and yucky weather. Bill and I skinned up on our skis and Ely snowshoed and carried his snowboard. Once we got a few hundred feet up we could see the mountain and it was almost clear. The forecast was not the optimistic, but we wanted to do this so we trudged on in weather that changed every 10 minutes. Once above treeline the sun shined brightly and tanned my pale hide. Around 6500 feet the clouds came back in and snowed and blew on us pretty hard. Once at 7000 feet the clouds were below us and it was gorgeous weather! We had to carry our skis the last few hundred feet as it was pretty icy in spots but we never needed our crampons or ice axes. Hit the summit around 130pm. Hung out for about 30 minutes and then started our descent. Great snow up top, then icy in the middle and cement near the bottom, but we were able to ski all the way to the parking lot, and made it there by 4pm. Could have been faster but we had to retrieve all of our wands. What a great day to get in 5500 vertical feet of skiing!
Summer day in the winter! Wind picked up a little halfway up, but at the top there was not a breeze at all and completely sunny. The footholes were consistent for the most part, and we ditched our snowshoes halfway up and just used hiking boots. We skiied down, but this proved extremely difficult with the variable snow conditions. The sticky snow was catching our edges, and the steepness of the slopes made our intermediate skills look quite elementary. I would wait for fresh snow before trying to ski down, unless you're comfortable in the Cascade Cement. Although, it did prove to be a quick descent (1.5 hour).
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: 02/9-02/10
Climbed the Worm Flows route with an overnighter just above timberline. Hike up from snow park to timberline was in perfect weather - the evening was calm and clear as well. The trail (Swift Creek #244) to timberline is like a highway - tons of people, well beaten. Weather still held well on Sunday morning - better than our June trip on S. Sister. Clouds moved in as we climbed the final section along Monitor - wind started pounding away; vis. dropped. Bad weather followed us all the way down. Snow-shoed all the way up (good snow - too soft for walking; perfect for snowshoeing) - no need for crampons (that day); kept ice ax handy on the way down. Several parties (+1 lone skier) were seen on the summit approach that day.
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: July 2001
The hardest part of this climb for our group was getting the permit. The lottery that weekend was harsh. There were like 100 people trying to get passes and of course most were turned away. We were lucky. But knowing this, I would always make a reservation way in advance and not hassle with the whole lottery scene in at Jack's Restaurant. On the other hand, if you don't have a reservation, go anyway and risk it. There is so much to see and climb out there, it is worth it.
The summit in my opinion was awesome. We had great weather and clear skies. There was little wind, so the crashing of rocks falling from the rim onto the youngest glacier in N. America was geological music to my ears.
The sights are amazing as well. It is a view into the bowels of the Earth! Some of the rocks under your feet are only 22 years old! The vents of sulfur and bubbling ponds of mud in the crater... It was the closest I have ever felt to the world beneath the crust that we are so accustomed to climbing around on. Granted, this is all taking place hundreds of feet below you (straight down) when you are on the rim, but the perspective from the summit makes it even so much more sublime. It is a wonder of nature. You are looking into the core of a mountain...
bosrs1 - Oct 10, 2002 4:52 pm
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: September 10, 2002This was my first summit. I was in a group of 4 consisting of my friend, her friend and her mother. We set out around 10:30 or so from the Climber's Bivouac. Beyond treeline the worn path ends and it's pretty much every scrambler for themself over the sharp rocks. The rocks turn out to be a blessing however when you approach the top since it turns to ash as you come over the last ridge. You take a step back for every two forward. It's all worth it as you crest the top however as the destruction of the blast and crater itself stretch out before you. The views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams were outstanding that day. Mt. Hood was also visible though only in outline due to a bit of haze to the south. We summited around 4 pm and made it back to the car in 2 and a half hours. Bring Trekking Poles though because the ash is great for foot skiing on the way down.
crirwin - Oct 8, 2002 1:51 pm
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: August 4, 2002A nice summer day it certainly was not! Climbed with 12 yo son, 15 yo daughter, wife and friends. His 2nd summit in 6 weeks (see my other entry). Rain at Climbers Bivouac turned to hail, sleet and eventually snow when we reached the summit. Luckily, we were well prepared and warmly clothed except for forgetting an extra pair of gloves. Gale force winds the last 1000 feet to summit. Wind chill of around zero degrees. We saw some climbers who had turned back. But, many also continued on. Visibility of less than 50 feet. Couldn't even see into the crater. The route was snow free and completely different from our earlier climb. Despite the weather everyone had a fun time and we're psyched to do it again next year.
crirwin - Oct 8, 2002 1:25 pm
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: June 22, 2002A gorgeous day on the mountain. First summit ever for my 12 yo son Jonathan and me. We climbed hand-in-hand the last few steps. Climbers Bivouac had just been plowed out the weekend before and the route was snow covered all the way to the summit. Bright sun and light winds at the summit. The view was spectacular - Rainier, Adams, and Hood. Jonathan especially enjoyed glissading down - especially the last pitch from Monitor Ridge back down to timberline. A day we'll never forget!!
cluck - Sep 12, 2002 5:26 pm
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: July 16, 2001We left the Climbers Bivouac at 0600 to head up Monitor Ridge. After breaking treeline, the weather started to worsen and we got rain and sleet. By 7500 feet, it was snowing pretty hard and most of the rocks were covered with rime ice. At this point, every party ahead of us was turning back. We decided to press on and see how far we could get. Eventually, we came to the summit crater rim, snapped some quick photos, and beat feet for lower elevation and fairer weather conditions. The summit views were less than spectacular, but we did get a sense of accomplishment for having endured the weather.
magellan - Aug 26, 2002 9:49 pm
Route Climbed: monitor ridge Date Climbed: june 27, 1999The road to the climbers bivouac (3800') got plowed out the day before, saving many miles. We were informed of a situation, an overdue climber, separated from his party. Skamania county sheriff made us promise to walk him out if we saw him on the way to timberline camp.(4800') We saw no one, and were informed via cell phone that 'tom' had wandered out on his own. Two lonely mountaineers having too much fun telling stories instead of sleeping. Got going at 3:30 am. Didn't even need headlamps because of ambient june light. Some ridge scrambling, and a lot of snow. The last 800' had a stairway to the top, thank goodness. It was rock hard and we were cramponless. I can't believe we had the whole summit to ourselves! Frozen but happy, we started waking people up on the phone. Apparently, 7:00 am is too early to call on a Sunday. The fog, the sunrise, the avalanches in the crater, the other volcanoes, and the solitude all added up to an incredible climb. Irritated several groups trying to be the first up the mountain that day. We're view hogs! Back home to our wives in only 26 hours.
megan matthews - Aug 20, 2002 9:28 am
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: july 31, 2002`megan julia we are eight years old and we reached the top of the mountain. has anybody else reached the top that is 8?
on the way down I slid on my bum on the sand
I saw a rock slide in crater when I was on top
megan matthews
julia robertson
AdamTreks - Jul 25, 2002 9:33 am
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: August 2001Great day hike! It gets really hot on the summit though. Summit early and use sun screen!
gratefuldan - Jul 22, 2002 9:45 am
Route Climbed: monitor ridge Date Climbed: 7/21/02My wife and I camped at timberline Saturday night and summited Sunday morning. There was a group of 34 on the summit with us!!!!!! I do not know what the heck a group so large was doing up there, or why they were allowed more like?!?!. My friend proposed to his girlfriend on the summit-pretty exciting. That was my 5th time up-it doesn't get old! Route is snowfree, bugs were horrendous at timberline!
jeffreyking - Jul 15, 2002 12:13 pm
Route Climbed: Ptarmigan Trail to Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: July 12, 2002I left at 3:00AM from below the Climber's Bivouac and summited at 5:00AM in time for sunrise over Mount Adams. I enjoyed solitude for most of the morning until the Bivouac party crowd started to arrive (one guy had a cigarette and Bud Light after summiting at 9:30AM). I noticed that the off trail sediment is extremely loose and likely to slide significantly in the future.
BicRungee - Jul 10, 2002 4:33 pm
Route Climbed: worm flows Date Climbed: April, 2000With peter, robin, karin & robert. Skied crater rim to parking lot. Yee hah!
joeyjoemack - Jun 17, 2002 11:05 am
Route Climbed: Ptarmigan trail to Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: June 15th,2002Climber's bivouac parking lot opened Friday afternoon. Skinned up through the trees, snow is thin and trashed with branches/cones/etc. Upper mountain was fun skiing down (corn snow, heavy in places). Got too far west and had to bushwack over lava ridges. Ugh!
Bentley - Jun 10, 2002 9:35 am
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: June 3, 2002My first ski mountaineering experience. Hauled my skis to the summit but my skiing abilities & noodly BC boards were unable to cope with the extremely sun-cupped conditions--ended up walking nearly the entire descent, turning into a really LONG day.
Had BEAUTIFUL weather with good views of Rainier, Adams, Hood, and Jefferson. All in all, a GREAT day!
What a view over that crater rim, though!
7summits - Jun 7, 2002 6:27 am
Route Climbed: Normal route, to real summit Date Climbed: end of August 2000After the weird permit ritual we climbed nicely to the summit ridge where we continued to the real high point
scot'teryx - Jun 3, 2002 1:12 pm
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: May 11, 2002Ski ascent/Descent
Had to take skiis of around 6500 feet and haul from there. Beautiful day, and it was the last weekend of no limits on climbers passes so everyone was up there.
scot'teryx - Jun 3, 2002 1:12 pm
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: May 11, 2002Ski ascent/Descent
Had to take skiis of around 6500 feet and haul from there. Beautiful day, and it was the last weekend of no limits on climbers passes so everyone was up there.
velodurt - Apr 8, 2002 10:20 am
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: August 22nd, 1994What an amazing hike! I remember it like it was yesterday. It was so awesome to look down into the steaming crater. If you have the chance to climb this volcano then I highly recommend that you do. Being above the clouds on that ash covered trail is really awesome!
Natural Born Hikers
scot'teryx - Apr 8, 2002 12:42 am
Route Climbed: Work Flows Date Climbed: April 7, 2002Headed down Saturday afternoon and got to the the Marble Mountain Sno Park that evening. Started at 730am in rain and yucky weather. Bill and I skinned up on our skis and Ely snowshoed and carried his snowboard. Once we got a few hundred feet up we could see the mountain and it was almost clear. The forecast was not the optimistic, but we wanted to do this so we trudged on in weather that changed every 10 minutes. Once above treeline the sun shined brightly and tanned my pale hide. Around 6500 feet the clouds came back in and snowed and blew on us pretty hard. Once at 7000 feet the clouds were below us and it was gorgeous weather! We had to carry our skis the last few hundred feet as it was pretty icy in spots but we never needed our crampons or ice axes. Hit the summit around 130pm. Hung out for about 30 minutes and then started our descent. Great snow up top, then icy in the middle and cement near the bottom, but we were able to ski all the way to the parking lot, and made it there by 4pm. Could have been faster but we had to retrieve all of our wands. What a great day to get in 5500 vertical feet of skiing!
wholmer - Mar 4, 2002 9:10 am
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: 3/2/02Summer day in the winter! Wind picked up a little halfway up, but at the top there was not a breeze at all and completely sunny. The footholes were consistent for the most part, and we ditched our snowshoes halfway up and just used hiking boots. We skiied down, but this proved extremely difficult with the variable snow conditions. The sticky snow was catching our edges, and the steepness of the slopes made our intermediate skills look quite elementary. I would wait for fresh snow before trying to ski down, unless you're comfortable in the Cascade Cement. Although, it did prove to be a quick descent (1.5 hour).
rpc - Feb 12, 2002 3:07 pm
Route Climbed: Worm Flows Date Climbed: 02/9-02/10Climbed the Worm Flows route with an overnighter just above timberline. Hike up from snow park to timberline was in perfect weather - the evening was calm and clear as well. The trail (Swift Creek #244) to timberline is like a highway - tons of people, well beaten. Weather still held well on Sunday morning - better than our June trip on S. Sister. Clouds moved in as we climbed the final section along Monitor - wind started pounding away; vis. dropped. Bad weather followed us all the way down. Snow-shoed all the way up (good snow - too soft for walking; perfect for snowshoeing) - no need for crampons (that day); kept ice ax handy on the way down. Several parties (+1 lone skier) were seen on the summit approach that day.
Noah (Oregon) - Feb 11, 2002 10:27 am
Route Climbed: Monitor Ridge Date Climbed: July 2001The hardest part of this climb for our group was getting the permit. The lottery that weekend was harsh. There were like 100 people trying to get passes and of course most were turned away. We were lucky. But knowing this, I would always make a reservation way in advance and not hassle with the whole lottery scene in at Jack's Restaurant. On the other hand, if you don't have a reservation, go anyway and risk it. There is so much to see and climb out there, it is worth it.
The summit in my opinion was awesome. We had great weather and clear skies. There was little wind, so the crashing of rocks falling from the rim onto the youngest glacier in N. America was geological music to my ears.
The sights are amazing as well. It is a view into the bowels of the Earth! Some of the rocks under your feet are only 22 years old! The vents of sulfur and bubbling ponds of mud in the crater... It was the closest I have ever felt to the world beneath the crust that we are so accustomed to climbing around on. Granted, this is all taking place hundreds of feet below you (straight down) when you are on the rim, but the perspective from the summit makes it even so much more sublime. It is a wonder of nature. You are looking into the core of a mountain...