OTHER Trip Report 05/12/2017

Peak(s):	Mount Saint Helens - 8363
Date Posted:	05/12/2017
Date Climbed:	05/08/2017
Author:	moneymike

Lawetlat'la or Mount Saint Helens
Summit Elevation: 8,363' Start Elevation: ~2,600' Vertical Gain: ~5,700' Vertical Skied: 5,700' Round Trip Distance: ~9 mi. Round Trip Time: 5:30 Red Tape: Permits are required. They are purchased on line and you can print them out. At the time I was ready to climb this peak, weekend permits were sold out, but weekday permits were in abundance. Mount Saint Helens is not the steepest of the Cascade volcanoes, or most prominent, or highest, or challenging, or remote, or aesthetic, or iconic, or...where was I going with this? Oh, yes, I remember. It may not be any of those things I described above, but if you're a science/nature nerd like me, you've got to love this volcano! The spectacular 1980 (my birth year) eruption, the pyroclastic flows, the massive destructive force of nature, the newly formed crater glacier that is growing as fast as the lava dome it covers. What's not to love about this mountain? Not to mention you can ski four thousand vertical feet of above-tree-line corn! After skiing Mt. Hood on Sunday, I parted ways with my ski partner Natalie (SnowAlien) and told her to meet me at the Mt. Saint Helens trail head. After skiing two volcanoes in two states with her, I learned that giving her directions was just as pointless as asking her for directions. Every time I'd ask her for directions, she would say "google it," and every time I'd try to give her directions, she'd say "just give me the address so I can google it." Not long after entering Washington, I lost phone service for good. Fortunately I had my map and made my way towards "climbers bivuoac." This is the main trailhead to climb the mountain on the south side. If you're familiar with the mountain, you will understand why people only approach from the south (the north side is gone). I figured I'd be able to get to this trailhead given that it is below four thousand feet elevation. When I noticed that snow level went down to two thousand feet elevation, I got a bit worried. First glimpse on the way in Sure enough, I couldn't get anywhere near the trail head. Another check of the map and I was able to locate the winter trail head at Marble Mountain Sno-Park, at 2,600' elevation. Although much lower than Mount Hood, it appeared that St. Helens would be the same vertical gain. By the time I was ready for bed, I did a search around the parking lot, looking for my partner's car. It wasn't there. And I had no way of contacting her. So, either I'd see her in the morning or I would be going solo (not that anyone is really solo on such a popular mountain). At 5:30 a.m. I was ready to hit the trail. I quickly scanned the parking lot and saw no sign of my partner. So, solo I would go. The trail was immediately and continuously snow packed right from the parking lot. The snow was packed firm from probably thousands of winter and spring skiers. The trail was easy to follow to tree line. Tree line was around 4,000' elevation, which is about two thousand feet lower than tree line on Mount Adams, a few tens of miles to the east. I'm no expert, but I would guess it's due to the increased snow that St. Helens gets compared to Adams (the climate gets drier as you travel east, and eventually becomes desert in eastern Washington). I made it to 4,000' in about an hour. This is tree line (at least on this portion of the mountain), above which nothing grows...except for sweet, sweet corn! From tree line, I just looked up the mountain and chose my preferred route (I imagine in the summer you must follow a specific path if you are off of snow). Mt. Hood comes into view Then Adams comes into view I reached the summit by 10 a.m. (my anticipated time). St. Helens is pretty rainy, but this peak is Rainier Being the nerd I am, getting to see the crater and lava dome was almost as much of a goal as skiing this mountain. I carefully inched my way to the crater rim, wary of getting too close and falling into the abyss. Fortunately, the rim was mostly free of overhanging cornices. I got the view I hoped for... Glacier covered lava dome, steeming vents, a cool lake, and Mt. Rainier! I enjoyed the views for a half hour then clicked in, prepared to harvest some quickly ripening corn. I didn't take many pictures on the way up because I was expecting to take the best shots on the way down. Unfortunately, I was having way too much fun on the way down to stop and shoot. Fortunately, I had my Go Bro to tell the story. Thanks Saint Helens! Epilogue: On my way down I saw Natalie climbing up. Although I've sent and received a few texts to/from her, I've never heard the story of what happened to her. She tells me she will write her own trip report, so I guess I'll find out soon enough. I wonder if I'm somehow to blame. Probably. After getting back to town, I rechecked the weather forecast. The next day, Tuesday, was good weather and Wednesday was 20% showers. In Colorado, 20% means go time, but in the Cascades, I figured 20% could mean failure. Then real storms would arrive on Thursday and persist through the foreseeable future. With two more (side by side) peaks on my list, a hundred miles to the north, with each one requiring over nine thousand vertical feet of climbing, and no beta on whether I could get to my anticipated starting point, I decided it wasn't worth the drive up there. At best, I could get one of the peaks, but possibly none. Whereas, if I came back another time, I could probably get them both, back-to-back. So, I called it a vacation and headed home. It was a long drive, so I did it in a few days, and stopped to enjoy the scenery and nature wherever I could find it. Here are a few wildlife pics I took in some beautifully unspoiled desert grasslands in eastern Oregon. Pronghorn Great Basin rattlesnake with large meal in his belly Great Basin Whiptail lizard Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Lawetlat'la or Mount Saint Helens

Summit Elevation: 8,363'
Start Elevation: ~2,600'
Vertical Gain: ~5,700'
Vertical Skied: 5,700'
Round Trip Distance: ~9 mi.
Round Trip Time: 5:30
Red Tape: Permits are required. They are purchased on line and you can print them out. At the time I was ready to climb this peak, weekend permits were sold out, but weekday permits were in abundance.

Mount Saint Helens is not the steepest of the Cascade volcanoes, or most prominent, or highest, or challenging, or remote, or aesthetic, or iconic, or...where was I going with this? Oh, yes, I remember. It may not be any of those things I described above, but if you're a science/nature nerd like me, you've got to love this volcano!

The spectacular 1980 (my birth year) eruption, the pyroclastic flows, the massive destructive force of nature, the newly formed crater glacier that is growing as fast as the lava dome it covers. What's not to love about this mountain? Not to mention you can ski four thousand vertical feet of above-tree-line corn!

After skiing Mt. Hood on Sunday, I parted ways with my ski partner Natalie (SnowAlien) and told her to meet me at the Mt. Saint Helens trail head. After skiing two volcanoes in two states with her, I learned that giving her directions was just as pointless as asking her for directions. Every time I'd ask her for directions, she would say "google it," and every time I'd try to give her directions, she'd say "just give me the address so I can google it."

Not long after entering Washington, I lost phone service for good. Fortunately I had my map and made my way towards "climbers bivuoac." This is the main trailhead to climb the mountain on the south side. If you're familiar with the mountain, you will understand why people only approach from the south (the north side is gone). I figured I'd be able to get to this trailhead given that it is below four thousand feet elevation. When I noticed that snow level went down to two thousand feet elevation, I got a bit worried.

Sure enough, I couldn't get anywhere near the trail head. Another check of the map and I was able to locate the winter trail head at Marble Mountain Sno-Park, at 2,600' elevation. Although much lower than Mount Hood, it appeared that St. Helens would be the same vertical gain.

By the time I was ready for bed, I did a search around the parking lot, looking for my partner's car. It wasn't there. And I had no way of contacting her. So, either I'd see her in the morning or I would be going solo (not that anyone is really solo on such a popular mountain).

At 5:30 a.m. I was ready to hit the trail. I quickly scanned the parking lot and saw no sign of my partner. So, solo I would go.

The trail was immediately and continuously snow packed right from the parking lot. The snow was packed firm from probably thousands of winter and spring skiers. The trail was easy to follow to tree line. Tree line was around 4,000' elevation, which is about two thousand feet lower than tree line on Mount Adams, a few tens of miles to the east. I'm no expert, but I would guess it's due to the increased snow that St. Helens gets compared to Adams (the climate gets drier as you travel east, and eventually becomes desert in eastern Washington).

I made it to 4,000' in about an hour. This is tree line (at least on this portion of the mountain), above which nothing grows...except for sweet, sweet corn! From tree line, I just looked up the mountain and chose my preferred route (I imagine in the summer you must follow a specific path if you are off of snow).

I reached the summit by 10 a.m. (my anticipated time).

St. Helens is pretty rainy, but this peak is Rainier

Being the nerd I am, getting to see the crater and lava dome was almost as much of a goal as skiing this mountain. I carefully inched my way to the crater rim, wary of getting too close and falling into the abyss. Fortunately, the rim was mostly free of overhanging cornices. I got the view I hoped for...

Glacier covered lava dome, steeming vents, a cool lake, and Mt. Rainier!

I enjoyed the views for a half hour then clicked in, prepared to harvest some quickly ripening corn.

I didn't take many pictures on the way up because I was expecting to take the best shots on the way down. Unfortunately, I was having way too much fun on the way down to stop and shoot. Fortunately, I had my Go Bro to tell the story.

Thanks Saint Helens!

Epilogue:

On my way down I saw Natalie climbing up. Although I've sent and received a few texts to/from her, I've never heard the story of what happened to her. She tells me she will write her own trip report, so I guess I'll find out soon enough. I wonder if I'm somehow to blame. Probably.

After getting back to town, I rechecked the weather forecast. The next day, Tuesday, was good weather and Wednesday was 20% showers. In Colorado, 20% means go time, but in the Cascades, I figured 20% could mean failure. Then real storms would arrive on Thursday and persist through the foreseeable future. With two more (side by side) peaks on my list, a hundred miles to the north, with each one requiring over nine thousand vertical feet of climbing, and no beta on whether I could get to my anticipated starting point, I decided it wasn't worth the drive up there. At best, I could get one of the peaks, but possibly none. Whereas, if I came back another time, I could probably get them both, back-to-back. So, I called it a vacation and headed home.

It was a long drive, so I did it in a few days, and stopped to enjoy the scenery and nature wherever I could find it. Here are a few wildlife pics I took in some beautifully unspoiled desert grasslands in eastern Oregon.

Great Basin rattlesnake with large meal in his belly

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

boudreaux	Cascading? 5/13/2017 8:23am Wow, very nice vacation indeed! I've always wanted to do those two (St Helens & Hood). They are not that far away, although I would have to walk down, but nevertheless it would be a great experience! Nice pic of the Rattlesnake, I saw a monster snake in the GC last year at Rainbow Falls. Good to have zoom lens on the camera, yikes,it looks mean and nasty!
salisbur1	sweet 5/13/2017 10:59am Thanks for the TR. Didn't know how dumped on they were, and even down to 2,000 ft too.
moneymike	Thanks boudreaux and salisbur1 5/13/2017 12:19pm boudreaux: Great basin rattlesnakes are known for their placid nature. Even with all the harassment of our photo session, the little guy never attempted to strike. He just tried to get away, which made photographing him more difficult. The aggressive prairie rattlesnakes that live in eastern Colorado are much easier to photograph because they tend to stand their ground.
Jvinro	Thank you. 5/16/2017 11:26am Moneymike, thank you for the trip down the mountain. I watched it all and also had "way too much fun". What's next for you?
moneymike	You're welcome 5/16/2017 2:56pm Jvinro. It WAS way too much fun! I'll just be weekend warrioring some 13ers around Colorado until the snow melts.

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