Mount Adams South Climb (Lunch Counter Approach)

This route begins and ends at the South Climb Trailhead after reaching the summit of Mount Adams. Begin hiking north on the South Climb Trail #183, ascending through a forest burned in the 2012 Cougar Creek Fire. At 1.3 miles, reach the junction with the Round the Mountain Trail #9 to the right. Continue straight on the South Climb Trail #183. The trail climbs north through subalpine terrain, eventually transitioning to volcanic rock and permanent snowfields. At 4.0 miles, reach the Lunch Counter, a wide, rocky plateau at 9,250 feet that serves as a common camp. Above the Lunch Counter, the maintained trail ends and route-finding over snow or scree begins. Head north-northeast up the steep snowfield of the South Spur, climbing 2,400 vertical feet to the false summit of Pikers Peak at 11,644 feet. From Pikers Peak, head north across the flat summit plateau, then ascend the final 600 vertical feet of the summit dome to reach the true summit at 12,280 feet. Retrace your steps to return to the trailhead.