Only 31 miles apart, Mount Adams and Mount Saint Helens have a lot in common. Both mountains are still considered active volcanoes. This might seem odd due to the fact that Mount Saint Helens regularly has volcanic “burps” while Mount Adams hasn’t seen an eruption for nearly 1400 years. Both mountains see far fewer ascents than their popular neighbors, Mount Rainier and Mount Hood. And both mountains offer scenic climbs on moderate terrain. The similarities in style and difficulty make this a perfect pair for the aspiring alpinist to tackle together.
Climbing Mount St. Helens is a very unique opportunity considering its historical 1980 eruption. The flanks of this Southern Cascade Volcano offer fantastic beginner level ascents while climbing past volcanic debris and lava tube. Mount Saint Helens is considered an ideal peak for those who would like a solid introduction to snow climbing and general mountaineering skills while enjoying stunning views of the surrounding country.
An extremely interesting and scenic aspect of this trip is the opportunity to climb two stratovolcanos in a row. One of them still reflects what we think of when we imagine a classic conical volcano, while the other demonstrates both the beauty and the violence of the aftermath of a catastrophic eruption. The fact that one of these volcanoes redefined itself and everything around it while the other sits silently, an image of what the first mountain looked like years ago, provides a stark and awesome scenic juxtaposition for the climber to ponder.
Our tour of the Southern Cascades Volcanoes is the perfect hybrid of a trip. On the one hand, we will attempt to attain two high summits and on the other, we will engage in a high level of instruction. This introductory course will provide participants with a variety of camping, mountaineering, and snow climbing skills. Those who complete the course should be able to climb similar snow routes in the Cascades, the Sierra, the Rockies and the Wind River Ranges.
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