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Hike to the Summit (HTTS) Program

Want to stand on the top of a famous NW summit like South Sister or Mt. St Helens, but don’t have much interest in dealing with rope, harness, ice axe, crampons, or helmets?  Check out the Hike to the Summit!

This program offers opportunities to summit a glaciated mountain peak for those who do not have technical mountaineering skills.  These hikes/climbs are planned in the late summer on peaks such as Mt. St. Helens, South Sister or Old Snowy, when technical gear are usually not needed to attain the summit.  Non-members and novice climbers are encouraged to go on these hikes/climbs to attain a glaciated summit, which qualifies them for Mazamas membership.

To get in shape for these climbs, try to hike regularly through the spring and summer.  Hikes that include 3,000 plus feet of elevation gain over 6 or more miles will prepare you for the climb.  Try to work up to doing this while wearing a pack with approx. 20% of your body weight.  On your climb card, please list the more challenging hikes you have recently done rather than climbing experience.

Cost for the climb (1 climb card) is $15 for Mazamas members, and $25 for non-members.  Group size is usually 8-10 (never more than 12), and carpooling from Portland is strongly encouraged.

To go on one of these climbs, you need to:

  1. Choose a climb(s) from the list below
  2. Contact the leader to find out if there is still room on their climb.  (Contact the Mazamas office if you need a phone number or email for a leader, and we’ll be glad to give it to you.)
  3. If the leader does have room, buy a climb card from the Mazamas office.  (Calling in with a credit/debit card is usually the fastest way.)
  4. Fill out the climb card and mail it to the leader
  5. Wait for the leader to send you a climb prospectus, meet up your team, and climb your peak!

Please see the Climbing pages for more on the whole climb application process.  Contact us at the Mazama Mountaineering Center if you have any questions about the Hike to the Summit.  See you on top!



2008 Hike to the Summit Climbs (Check these pages through the summer; more climbs will be added)

Climb# Date(s) Leader Mountain Route Grade
213 7/19/08 Burke Stoll South Sister Devil's Lake A(H)
156 7/26/08 Lori Freeman South Sister Devil's Lake A(H)
42 8/31/08 Bruce Yatvin Mt. St. Helens Monitor Ridge A(H)
173 9/13/08 Sarah Lewins South Sister Devil's Lake A(H)(F)(N)
157 9/13/08 FULL Lori Freeman Old Snowy Snowgrass Flats A(H)
94 9/13/08 Jay Stagnone Mt. St. Helens Monitor Ridge A(H)
77 9/21/08 Gerry Itkin South Sister Devil's Lake A(H)
161 9/26-28/08 Greg Scott South Sister Green Lakes A+(H)
48 9/28/08 Bruce Yatvin South Sister Devil's Lake A(H)

Note: For more Mt. St. Helens climbs, have a look at Oregon Peak Adventures. They offer professionally guided trips, with permits, lunch, equipment and door-to-door round trip transportation provided at a very reasonable price.