Mt. Adams: Round The Mountain Route
In Ira Spring’s guidebook South Cascades & Olympics, he wrote about the 34 mile Round The Mountain Trail “There has been and never can be a trail”. Those words ring true today as you traverse The Great Gap, a 4.5 mile section between the Hellroaring Viewpoint to the end of Avalanche Valley which lies on the Yakima Reservation. The first part of the Gap there is a boot path and cairns to follow up to Sunrise Camp on the saddle between the Ridge Of Wonders and the Mountain, a most impressive spot that leaves you vacant in a stark alpine wonderland where the snouts of glaciers are only a stone’s throw away. After that, good map reading, route finding and some fancy footwork is needed as you cross a half dozen glacial streams that pour off the Mt. Adams into the stunning Avalanche Valley. A truly amazing and hair raising experience awaits all wilderness travelers that attempt this route, I love the Cascades.
Glacial tarn near Sunrise Camp
Stark volcanic glacial plains
Crossing of the Big Muddy River
Goat Butte, the end of Avalanche Valley
The Mountain comes in to view as the mist clears
Glacial streams cut through meadows of green
My off trail camp
Sunny skies greet me off the PCT portion
Gentle terrain on the west side of the Mountain
