Crater Rim To Car...St Helens

[jake L.]

This isn't a NE 4K but I wanted to share part of my trip last week while I was in the Pacific Northwest with my brother dirt bagging it in a van. Spent some time at Hood but due to the extreme amount of snow that was falling didn't get above 6,000 feet. We still enjoyed some nice tours in the Hood region and had a stellar day on St Helens which was definitely the highlight of the trip, see below.

The "Worm Flows" winter route starts at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park (elev. 2,700 feet) where we made dirt bag camp #1. That night the mountain received 4-6" of fluff and things were shaping up perfectly for a summit bid in the AM. After some trailer hitch grits with bacon we were skinning by 6:45am through Douglas Fir and fresh snow. We soon came to tree line and the Sun was finally working its magic slowly lifting the veil on the mountain.

The temperature hovered in the mid 20's all day with no wind and made for very comfortable skinning in just thermals.

As we passed the magic elevation marker of 6,288 feet stoke increased as we had only another 2,000 feet to the rim.

The views were OK. Mt Adams makes an appearance.

We reached a point just below the crater rim at noon and made our transition.

Part 2 Below

 

[jake L.]

The skiing was incredible! We hooted and hollered while we enjoyed the over 5,550 vertical feet of perfect turns back to the car.

A great day to be in the mountains!

 

[mirabela]

^^ That is just perfectly awesome. Good for you!

 

[JacobH]

Sweet turns! Looks like fun.

 

[HAMTERO]

Looks like you won't forget about that for a while

 

[Peakbagr]

Holy cow, 2 fabulous trips and trip reports posted in successive days. This and the Rainbow slide TR. Each spectacular.
After reading both a couple of times, will go back through this one and Mudrat's much more slowly so I can savor.
Thank you for putting up such an enjoyable trip report. Stunning photos.
It's been years since I was up on MSH. Summer trip the first year they were allowing people back after she blew her top.

 

[jake L.]

Thanks everyone!

Looks like you won't forget about that for a while

No sir!

Holy cow, 2 fabulous trips and trip reports posted in successive days. This and the Rainbow slide TR. Each spectacular.
After reading both a couple of times, will go back through this one and Mudrat's much more slowly so I can savor.
Thank you for putting up such an enjoyable trip report. Stunning photos.
It's been years since I was up on MSH. Summer trip the first year they were allowing people back after she blew her top.

My Dad had gone up there soon after the eruption as well. He had always told us great stories about it when we were growing up and was definitely the inspiration for out stop there. Thanks!

 

[skiguy]

Nice report. "Trailer Hitch Grits" ....now that sounds like a good recipe.

 

[David Metsky]

Great job, way to get the goods.

 

[Chugach001]

Very nice! Did you peak over the crater rim? It's very cool. Very refreshing to see some non-eastcoast photos.

 

[jake L.]

Very nice! Did you peak over the crater rim? It's very cool. Very refreshing to see some non-eastcoast photos.

No, didn't peek over the crater rim due to the looming cornices.

 

[Peakbagr]

In the summer without the cornices, walking the rim is spectacular. When we were there, the rim was friable so there was constant rockfall into the crater. Rocks from pebble to VW Beetle size. It sounded like rainfall.
The lava dome was small, active and smoking. It's gotta be much larger 20 years+ later.
If it doesn't blow again, should first fill the crater and then rebuild the lost elevation. Too bad none of us will be around to see that.
Couldn't have explained this better myself: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4146

 

[Sunshine Chris]

Gorgeous photos. It must have been just awesome skiing down versus hiking. Umm, Maybe I got the wrong idea here, trudging down in snowshoes or boots off every mountain. This skiing thing has me thinking that I might be missing something big here!

 

[Jackel]

Great report and amazing pics!