Mt. Adams Backpacking

At 12,276'(3,742m), Mt Adams is the second highest mountain, after Mt. Rainier, in the Pacific Northwest. It is a massive mountain and although about 2,000'(610m) lower than Mt. Rainier, it has about the same volume of extruded material. Adams is covered by ten glaciers which provide for spectacular views of scenic chaos as one circumnavigates the mountain.

A notable feature of backpacking around Mt. Adams is the section called "The Gap". On the eastern side of the mountain, this section is distinguished by being in "Tract D" of the Yakima Indian Reservation and by a lack of established trails. Even though it's only seven miles (11km) in length, it take a full two day to traverse. Terrain features include snow fields, glaciers, glacial moraines, and rocky ridges. It's challenging going, but it's also an awesome area, enhanced by the isolation and variety of the area.

Oregon Peak Adventures offers two backpacking trips on Mt. Adams:

	Adams R-T-M - This five-day, 34 mile trip goes completely around the mountain beginning and ending at Bird Creek Meadows.
	The Gap Traverse - This three-day, 19 mile (30 km) trip starts at Bird Creek Meadows, traverses "The Gap" and ends at the Muddy Meadow trailhead on the NNW side of the Mountain. Many folks have completed the trails portion of the R-T-M section on their own, but, perhaps, haven't felt that they had the technical equipment and experience to do "The Gap" on their own.