Word: mountain
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...only six miles over the horseshoe range from Washington to Adams, but the differences between the two mountains are immense. Adams, the opposite pillar of the horseshoe, presents a striking contrast to Washington. The steep and ragged upper reaches of the mountain culminate in a peak of one large rock which is unreachable except by foot. Only one trail, an offshoot of the Appalachian Trail, which skirts the peak, leads to the summit of Adams. Most hikers climbing over the whole range stay on the main trail so it is rare to meet other parties on the summit even...
...other six Presidentials which jut above the timberline is tough and risky enough to bring die-hard climbers back year after year. But Adam's attraction just begins with its Himalayan similarities. Ask any climber who knows the range well and chances are he'll describe Adams as a mountain which hikers worship: Washington is too commercial and can be reached too easily, Clay and the lesser known peaks are too non-descript. Madison and Monroe have large Appalachain Mountain Club Huts on their sides, and Jefferson is too much like the Alps. But Adams is different...
Some of the best tales and legends about Mt. Adams are found in the visitors' log book at Crag's Camp--a Randolph Mountain Club Cabin just below the timberline on the Western slope of the mountain. The small cabin is reachable only by foot and is perched on a crag which drops 1000 ft. into King Ravine. A caretaker lives at Crag's in the summer, but in the winter it is unoccupied. But the Mountain Club leaves it unlocked for winter climbers, asking only that they leave $1 for the use of the wooden bunks, potbelly stove...
...stove, the party, except for one who had received mild frostbite the day before, left at the crack of dawn in sub-zero temperatures to conquer Adams. Although the sky was clear on their side of the range, the clouds sweeping up the eastern slopes quickly locked in the mountain as they neared the final thousand feet of their climb. The ensuing blizzard completely obliterated any landmarks which they could have followed and any chance that they could reach the top. Now they only wanted to get safely back down to Crag's before dark and/or frostbite...
Their immediate goal of getting shelter from the blistering cold and icy gale-winds, however, brought them circling around the summit of the mountain. All hope of getting back to the shelter was lost after another hour because the blizzard had become so fierce that they could no longer walk upright. Stranded with only minimal supplies and food, the group had no other choice but to try to build up some sort of shelter and hope the blizzard subsided before they starved or froze...