The snow melt came early to the lower south side of Mount Adams this year, enough to allow road access to the Cold Spring's trailhead by June 7; the very day I showed up on the mountain, expecting that I'd be snow-shoeing the road from at least two miles below Cold Springs. As a result, I decided to set out from the trailhead in early afternoon, trudging through soft snow for three hours before making camp at 7,600', well below the Lunch Counter where we've traditionally launched for the summit attempt.

So the next morning when I headed for the summit, 5,000' above, from this low elevation, it was no surprise that my ascent would be long and arduous. Cloud obscured the land below, but the climb was completed in bright sunshine and no wind. The round trip to the summit and back to my camp took 12 hours ... too tired to pack up and make the relatively short descent to the trailhead. Another night resting on the mountain was a happy choice. Not a bad effort for the first big climb of the season and a timely reminder to always plan an early start on the first day.

My second Adam's climb this year was in the company of Lucy, completing the first day's ascent to the high camp location above the Lunch Counter in 4.5 hours on July 16. A very good time, helped considerably by our new lightweight backpacking equipment: Granite Gear packs, Black Diamond tent, Western Mountaineering sleeping bags and Thermarest Prolite mats ... recently acquired in anticipation of this year's John Muir Trail trek. We rested comfortably with the new gear, but woke at first light to the sound of high wind and the sight of a significant lenticular cloud obscuring the mountain above. After a leisurely breakfast ... killing time in the hope the weather would improve, I finally made the decision to cancel the summit attempt, pack up and descend to the Cold Springs trailhead. An unusual move for me on this mountain, because I can't recall giving away the summit in the 20 years of climbing Adams, including many ascents/descents in cloud, with and without GPS. I'm sure it was a good decision because the mountain just didn't feel right on this occasion.

The third and final Adam's climb for the year was in the company of my Aussie climbing mates, Mal Hill and Mike Fox ... a most enjoyable trip in excellent weather from 29 to 31 July.

Mal had climbed Adams with me and Lucy on previous occasions, but it was new for Mike who was experiencing a North American climbing season for the first time. This Adam's climb was a warm-up for numerous other adventures, including a visit to the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Lassen Peak NP and a lengthy stroll down the John Muir Trail from Yosemite NP to the summit of Mount Whitney. See Video: With Mal & Foxie in the Mountains

We spent the first night camped at Cold Springs trailhead, leaving early next morning for the Lunch Counter at an elevation of 9,300'. With an alpine start on the morning of 31 July, we climbed to the summit in the very good time of 3.8 hours, spent an hour with photo shoots and chatting to fellow climbers. The descent to the trailhead, including packing up the camp, took 4 hours. Overall, a great start for the adventure with the Aussies.

Peter Tremayne. Reno, May 2008