January Sun on Mt Pilchuck

Looking south at Mt Rainier

It's the middle of winter in the PNW of the U.S. January 25th to be exact. The sun is out and air temps are in the high 50's. 
Its a day like this that us hikers jump at the chance to get out and explore in winter.
My old best friend , David, was in town. Just like the days of playing endlessly outside when we were both young we drew our eyes on Mt. Pilchuck.
The parking lot was packed on arriving. Not a shocker as their rarely is a day it's not. This goes for the heather lake trail as well which is on the way to Pilchuck. But i couldn't blame them..... great minds think alike!

Mt Pilchuck's fire lookout looking east

Pilchuck is on the eastern edge of the cascades. Perfectly perched for views of the north and central cascades along with the Puget Sound. Don't forget views of the Olympic Mountains, Mt Rainier, Mt Baker and Glacier Peak. It's not a coincidence that at the top of 2.7 miles awaits a fire lookout.
David and I met a fellow hiker at the summit and ended up hiking back down with her. I've met and had many great conversations with fellow hikers on the trail. It never gets old and i look forward to the next experience.
Great views, great conversation, great friends and a great Sunday with my best friend!

David admiring the cliff edge
looking west

Glacier Peak looking west

Fire lookout with the Puget Sound and Olympic mountains, looking east

Cloud cover over the Puget Sound and the south Olympic Mtns

North side of Pilchuck ,looking west

Three Finger Mountain, looking north

Mt Baker, looking north

To the Top of Blustery Mt Adams

Lupine in full bloom

Looking south with Mt Hood in view

Mt Hood

Sunset at 7,500 ft

Our protected campsite!! Perfect site!!

The beauty laden landscapes of pure blue skies over endless wind melted white snow started to slightly become blended with  a weak headache. At 10,000 feet up Mt Adams, my joyous adventure slightly strayed off course from normal back and leg soreness to a painful headache and slight shortness of breath . Altitude sickness was a term i could explain if asked about but not because of any experience dealing with it. 
We trekked on with our micro spikes piercing snowy step after step. The headache slowly became more painful as time and elevation climbed on. 
Once at the top, 12,276 ft, i was over joyed, partly because we conquered the mountain and partly because soon we'd start our decent which meant relief for my head.
The wind was howling atop the summit to the point where standing up was difficult especially now that the altitude sickness made me slightly dizzy. 
Later on down the mountain a fellow hiker spread the news that the winds were clocked at around 75 mph on the summit block 
We took pictures, rejoiced and soaked up all the views!! 
Next came the incredible glissading down the snowy slopes. From near the top all the way down to near 9,500 ft we slid on our wet cold bums enjoying one snowchute after another.  
Climbing Adams was a feat I'd do all over again! It was a new high point for me. Saying i hiked the 2nd highest peak in Washington state will never get old.
The climb was easier than i thought, minus the altitude sickness. It was more about endurance than anything else. Microspikes, an iceaxe, proper mountain boots , a sturdy tent and proper apparel for the ever changing high mountain conditions was all we needed. 
We camped just above 7,000 ft near the Crescent glacier area. I was surprised by the number of campsites and rock shelters that lined the trail from 6,000 ft to 10,000 ft. The crowd of people was shocking! It was a great weekend to be on Adams, with crystal blue skies and warm temps. This was July after all. We saw nearly  100 plus people climbing the peak that weekend.
There was a boyscout group from Spokane, Washington ascending up. Their plan was to climb Adams in two nights and three days. Skiers were also enjoying the slopes along with dogs who climbed along side their partners! I saw people who didn't come prepared. Some had no iceaxes, no crampons or microspikes, with only boats, wearing shorts, and no gloves. The guy wearing shorts did have gloves though, lol!
The wildflowers put on a display and i kept firing shots left and right with my camera.
The sunset was incredible with all the colors a hiker could ask for.
The landscapes were magnificent! They changed from dry forest lands to recent wildfire swept lands. Then to alpine wind blown forest lands and finally to the craggy high alpine snow swept lands which blankets the volcano from 8,000 ft up to the summit.
By the way have a blast on the 4 to 5 hour drive from Seattle or anywhere else as Adams lies in the middle of nowhere!
If your a hiker and you haven't climbed Mt Adams is should be on the top of your list for 2015!!!
My phone battery went dead about 2,000 ft from the top. Wish i had pictures. I will update this blog later with hope allison who joined me on this trek will send me her pictures.



Mt Adams info:
US Forest Service http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev3_005104
Summitpost http://www.summitpost.org/mount-adams/150198