Countdown to Adams

At this writing, there are only 10 days before Roger, Wilson and I leave to conquer the state's largest mountain. And it's time. By Roger's thinking, there will be enough snow to make the ascent pleasant and the descent swift. Team Wilson has more than surpassed the goal of climbing the equivalent of five Mount Rainiers while training for the ascent, and we are within two One World Futbols of our objective of raising 100 futbols for children in distressed communities as part of that training.

 A potential hiking partner, Nancy Zwicker, jumped the gun on us, and that was actually helpful, because of the report she provided. One of our concerns had been whether there would be enough snow on the mountain. Here is her report, delivered a week ago:

It was really cold at night.  Everything froze solid, so we cramponed up.  Made the top in 4.5 hours at 10:30 a.m. The snow was too firm to glissade at 11, but softened up a bit later.  The ground is bare until about half way up to the lunch counter (a popular bivouac site where hikers camp before setting off for the final climb--ed.).  Folks were saying that the first face above the lunch counter will be too thin of snow to glissade in about a week.
I think the snow will hold on the upper mountain... 10 - 12 k.  It is much steeper than I had imagined.  We were too early to the summit, but it was so cold and windy overnight we just wanted to get moving.  Had a mountain goat sniffing around the neighboring camps in the evening.  Very cool!

The Mount Adams descent via glissade will offer something special. It's our hope to include a video of the descent using a GoPro film posted on YouTube. The photo below shows a GoPro screen shot of Interstate 90, taken from the lookout ridge at the end of the trail up Mount Si, our most frequently used training climb.

Screen capture from GoPro movie gives indication of the sharpness of the rugged, versatile camera.

A couple of recent setbacks seem to be resolved: Roger pulled a tendon during a training hike on Mount Si. He's been in therapy, and a test hike on Rattlesnake Ridge showed that his tendon is up to the task. Roger's concerns about possible heart fribillations if his pulse becomes too high have been put aside as well by his doctor, who said his heart is healthy and can take the climb. A week ago I tested Rattlesnake Ridge (1,100-foot gain) with a 47-pound pack; yesterday I carried 35 pounds up Mount Si. (3,100-foot gain) So we're in shape for the hike.

During the coming days we will be inventorying our gear and supplies to decide what to take and what to leave behind. We'll let you know when we head out.

Oh, I should note that I've made a big thing about climbing Adams on my 70th birthday. Actually, I won't be 70 if we go up in early July. However, as I recall it, life insurance actuarial tables treat me as if I'm 70 six months before the fact. That's good enough for me. I hope you don't object.

Love,

Robert, Roger and
Wilson, the indestructible