Mt. St. Helens Expedition II - June 2000

Dylan, Johns G + W and I climb up and then snowboard down Mt. St. Helens.
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Table of Contents

     Camping
     The Ascent
     The Summit
     The Descent

 

Camping

JohnG had a simple idea: climb up the volcano, snowboard down. After a furious round of emails, the nucleus of the team had assembled itself: Dylan, JohnG, JohnW, and myself. Dylan, JohnG and myself left Seattle around 2pm for the drive down to Jack's, to participate in the lottery. JohnW was to meet us there.

There are more hikers than there are permits for climbing Mt. St. Helens (especially on weekends), so if you aren't one of the lucky few who reserved your tickets months in advance, you have to show up at Jack's Restaurant below the mountain to participate in a lottery. They only have tickets for the first 50 non-reserved hikers.

JohnW met us at the restaurant, having spent the day climbing another peak in Rainier State Park. So we ate a quick meal at Jack's, then stood around in the parking lot with a crowd of other hikers, waiting for the lottery.

As luck would have it, we were the first ones chosen in the lottery. It was a good omen for the trip. We paid our money to Jack, and then headed off to the campsite.

At Jack's Restaurant (volcanic hazard: low) At Jack's Restaurant (volcanic hazard: low)

We stopped off at a lake (Lake Cougar?) to enjoy the view before setting up camp.

The lake. The lake.

At the camper's bivouac (3500 feet) we set up our tents, made a small fire with very wet wood, had a bit of food before turning in for the night.

The sun setting on Mt. St. Helens, above our campsite. The sun setting on Mt. St. Helens, above our campsite.

We woke up at sunrise to get ready.

Red sun hitting the trees with the moon above as JohnG makes coffee. Red sun hitting the trees with the moon above as JohnG makes coffee.

The morning sun hitting Mt. St. Helens. The morning sun hitting Mt. St. Helens.

Around 7:30 we were all packed up and ready to hit the trail. Around 7:30 we were all packed up and ready to hit the trail.

 

The Ascent

To get to the summit, you start at the climber's bivouac and hike up Monitor Ridge, a 4600 elevation gain to the summit at 8100 feet. I was worried that the day would be cloudy like the last trip ( Mt. St. Helens Expedition - August 1999 ) but those fears were groundless. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Hiking up below the treeline. Hiking up below the treeline.

Admiring the view at the treeline. Mt. Hood in the background. Admiring the view at the treeline. Mt. Hood in the background.

Traversing a snowfield, with Mt. Adams looking on. Traversing a snowfield, with Mt. Adams looking on.

JohnW cresting a snowfield. Got a problem with that?. JohnW cresting a snowfield. Got a problem with that?.

JohnG hiking up, with Hood behind him. JohnG hiking up, with Hood behind him.

Dylan taking a breather. Dylan taking a breather.

Snowboards among the rocks. Snowboards among the rocks.

JohnG hiking up, again with Mt. Hood in the background. JohnG hiking up, again with Mt. Hood in the background.

JohnG hiking up, now in front of Mt. Adams. JohnG hiking up, now in front of Mt. Adams.

Almost there.... Almost there....

 

The Summit

The last time I summitted Mt. St. Helens, you could barely see 50 feet away (again, see Mt. St. Helens Expedition - August 1999 ). This time, the view was spectacular. We were completely exhausted, and after eating a bit and drinking a LOT of water, we slept for almost two hours.

At the summit. Note the brave (or extremely stupid) man behind JohnW standing on the cornice. We may have a Darwin Award winner! At the summit. Note the brave (or extremely stupid) man behind JohnW standing on the cornice. We may have a Darwin Award winner!

Mt. Rainier behind us. Mt. Rainier behind us.

Peering over the cornice: Spirit Lake, with Mt. Rainier beyond. Peering over the cornice: Spirit Lake, with Mt. Rainier beyond.

The view back down Monitor Ridge, with Mt. Hood in the background. The view back down Monitor Ridge, with Mt. Hood in the background.

The four of us (JohnW, Dylan, myself and JohnG) at the summit. The four of us (JohnW, Dylan, myself and JohnG) at the summit.

After the nap, we readied our snowboards for the ride down. After the nap, we readied our snowboards for the ride down.

 

The Descent

We talked to a ranger at the summit, and he suggested a decent run down to the bottom. So after a short traverse at the summit, we strapped on the boards and pointed them downhill.

Making tracks down from the summit. The snow at the top was pretty dirty. Making tracks down from the summit. The snow at the top was pretty dirty.

Dylan shredding the volcano. Dylan shredding the volcano.

JohnW traversing. JohnW traversing.

JohnG gliding by. JohnG gliding by.

Making tracks, further down in cleaner snow. Making tracks, further down in cleaner snow.

The same shot, zoomed back so you get a taste of the scenery. The same shot, zoomed back so you get a taste of the scenery.

Running out of snow: we had to pick our way through the snowfields at lower altitudes. Running out of snow: we had to pick our way through the snowfields at lower altitudes.

Hiking back to the main trail. Hiking back to the main trail.

Back at the bivouac. Back at the bivouac.