Summer Stashes: A session on Mt. Adams

By now most skiers have accepted summer’s arrival in all its warmth and glory. But while some may be hanging up their gear for the season, high in the mountains remain a few dedicated souls who are still chasing turns. This summer, we will talk with a few of these die-hards about their favorite “summer stashes” that take them to the hills while they wait for the next snowfall.

All summer long, we will add to the growing list of places where you can find snowy terrain to beat the heat. This week we talked with skier and climber Andy Munas who took advantage of the remaining snow on Mt. Adams in the Cascades earlier in the season.

Andy Munas and Martin Mudry make their way up the flanks of Mt. Adams. [Photo] Erik Turner

Location: Mt. Adams, Washington
Team: Andy Munas, Erik Turner, Martin Mudry
Prime Time: Late spring – early summer
Summit Elevation: 12,280 feet
Descent Date: May 30

Munas gazes up at a wall of white. [Photo] Erik Turner

The Cascade Range is a popular destination for both skiers and mountaineers that are still looking for snowy slopes late in the year. Mt. Adams— the second highest peak of the range— proved to be picturesque for Andy Munas and photographer Erik Turner on their day of late May turns.

“Mt. Adams threw us the ideal conditions,” says Munas who skied the mountain with his brother-in-law and friend. “It’s 5,000 vertical feet, 40 to 45 degrees, consistent [and] corn the whole way.”

Munas on the ascent of Mt. Adams. [Photo] Erik Turner

But Munas and his friends weren’t the only people there; the optimal weather attracted many mountaineers and skiers hoping to summit the peak. “Mt. Adams [is a] super popular mountaineering destination,” Munas explains. “You can see the long line of skiers making their way up the south routes.”

The trio followed suit and made their way up the mountain.

The view from Mt. Adams is a volcanic one. [Photo] Erik Turner

“The approach is [as] straightforward as it gets,” says Munas of the south-facing ascent. “You see the whole route as soon as you break above treeline.”

The team knew they wanted to separate from the crowd, so instead of skiing the standard, south facing route, they chose their lines on the Southwest Chutes. “Straight ahead there’s a little rock outcropping to your right and to your left, and you go down this huge chute,” says Munas. “We got the absolute perfect conditions [that] day.”

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To read Andy Munas’ account of his ski trip, visit The Ascent Journal. To see more of Erik Turner’s photography, check out High Pressure Photography.