After an unsuccessful summit attempt last year (you can read my trip report from 6/13/2020), my partner and I were able to summit this past Saturday (6/19) on a beautiful, clear day! 

Climber's Bivouac had opened, but we decided to stick with the Worm Flows route, as we had tried it last year and wanted to best it. We stayed in Portland for the weekend, so were out the door at 3:15am, at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park at 4:45am, and started on the trailhead at 5am. Didn't need headlamps as the sun was already rising. The first few miles in the forest were quick and easy, and once we arrived at the Chocolate Falls, we were greeted with our first view of Mount Hood. We continued up past the weather station on the rocky/sandy part, before it ended and we opted to put on microspikes and start using our trekking poles. The journey through the snow to the summit was definitely a slog (felt like going up stairs). The snow wasn't too slushy at this point (although there were some parts where a foot would slip - having the poles were definitely a lifesaver), and I would just walk in someone else's tracks, which made the going up easier. It had gotten quite windy on our way up, so there were a lot of pauses taken to rebalance and wait for the wind to pass. It was also annoying because it would be blowing dust/silt around and into our eyes. That false summit is definitely a tease. Summitted at around 10:45am and spent about half an hour enjoying the expansive views of Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Mount Rainier, and other smaller mountains and having lunch. 

On the way down, we were able to glissade all the way to the weather station. There were some existing chutes we took, and other times, we would glide down on our boots (the snow was getting softer at this point). Neither of us brought an ice axe, but were able to use our poles for control. The glissading was super fun, and saved us so much time. (For reference - it took us about 3 hours to reach the summit from the weather station and only 1 hour to glissade down).  We were back at the parking lot at 2:15pm for a total trip time of 9.5 hours, including lots of snack breaks and a long pause at the summit. 

As for packing - on the way up to the boulders, it was quite warm so I was wearing two long sleeve shirts and a zip up, but layered up once we reached the snow, especially because of the wind. On the way down, I de-layered once we reached the boulders as it had gotten quite hot. Definitely bring gloves (garden gloves would work) for the bouldering (they were HOT by the afternoon) and the glissading. We each had 3L of water and had finished it by the time we were done with the boulders, so I would say about 3-4L minimum. We had a GPS, which was helpful to keep us on track with the glissading, and I had nearly full service at every point on the hike I had taken my phone out for pictures - including the summit! (T-Mobile).

Also, wear sunglasses, suncreen and chapstick with SPF! The sun didn't feel too bad on the way up, but on the way down, our faces were definitely sunburned. This was definitely a perfect day for the summit, and I'm so happy we were able to make it!

This was my first time climbing St. Helens - and my tallest peak yet.  I was quite nervous, but it was amazing!  We arrived to the Sno-park the night before around 10pm and camped out for the night.  There were probably another dozen cars already parked doing the same.  We got up at 3:15 began our hike at 4am.  This was a perfect time, as we got to watch the sky lighting up shortly into the hike and by the time we hit the snowfields they weren't too slushy.  We used microspikes and poles which were fine, but I would not do this climb without traction.  We reached the top at 9:30am, and enjoyed a morning beverage, amazing views of surrounding peaks as well as conversation with some really great fellow hikers.  

I would suggest rain or snow pants if you plan to glissade, as I did not want to have a wet bottom for the remainder of the descent.  I also used an ice axe, and was very happy I had it as some of the tracks were pretty steep and I used my axe to brake most of the way.  Glissading was so much fun though, and saved so much time on the way down!

One suggestion I do have is to make sure you bring plenty of water.  This was the first time I went through 2 liters in a hike, and luckily I had brought a small platypus soft bottle with gatorade...I was happy I did!

We made it back to the car just before 2pm for a total trip time of ten hours.  There is plenty of parking at the Sno-park and lots of space to spread out if you want to camp out the night before.  The stargazing at the Sno-park was an added bonus!

We arrived at the Sno Park on Wed night and slept in our vehicle.  We set an alarm for 4am and took our time gearing up, having coffee etc.  We hit the trail at 5:30am.  The weather for the day was perfect, 40s and 50s.  I wore my hiking pants and a button down hiking shirt, wool socks, boots, and gaiters.  Visor, sunglasses, buff, and gloves. I packed a puffy and a rain jacket as well as rain pants and another shirt, socks, and wool leggings in a ziplock bag in case things got hairy. I also had the 10 essentials. The first couple of miles is flat forest.  The second couple of miles is bouldering, this is when the ascent really starts. Rubber lined "work" gloves or gardening gloves are beneficial here.  Once you hit the antennae/monitoring station, get prepared for snow the rest of the way up.  Microspikes with the trekking pole assist were fine for me, I saw others with crampons.  This last couple of miles is a snowy, steep, slow slog.  We took our time, plenty of breaks, and a lot of photos.  The views were spectacular!  We spent an hour chilling at the summit before glissading down.  Here are my main tips:  bring plenty of water!!  3.5L was good for me.  Bring a small tarp and put on your rain pants for the most fun glissading down the mountain.  We had a 6x6 and cut it in half and shared.  Use sunscreen on every bit of skin exposed to the sun - ears, wrists, everywhere the sun may hit!  We arrived back at the parking lot a little before 7pm.  Remember LNT principles (the trail was very clean!  YAY everyone) this includes using a blue bag if you need to go #2 on the mountain.  If you can plan, use the pit toilets at the trail head.  Park services also provided free blue bags to take with you.  These were limited so bring your own if needed. 

Made it to the Marble Mount Trailhead at 4 am and started hiking at 4:30.  Hiked in a group of 5. Forecast for the day was clear and warm, and it really was!     

Lower forest trail had small patched of snow that were mostly melted by end of day.  There were some patches of mud, but otherwise a wide, easily navigated trail up to Chocolate Falls.  

After Chocolate Falls, hike became more steep and more difficult climbing up the rock ridge.  Most of the ridge has sandy/ash well defined trail, but there is some rock crawling along the way. 

The weather station is a nice place to rest, and watch other hikers navigate the rocks and snow.  We followed the rock ridge up a bit further past the weather station and then started the snow travel.  We started with hiking shoes, then quickly changed to microspikes to help avoid slipping and to save energy.   After the first rock ridge we switched to crampons for increased traction.  The snow was melting and kept sliding, and some ice as we made our way up.  It was basically a two hour snow stairway straight up.  The steepest portion leading to a false summit, with the real summit just beyond that point, and don't be fooled, it's just as steep to get up.  

At the top, the snow cornice was very obviously cracking, there were large melt-out points where the snow was unstable, but there were plenty of people still walking all over it.  

We glissaded down most of it, although the glissade route over the false summit was a bit sketchy because you could not see where it went, it was just a drop off to a very steep section, we chose to walk down a good portion at that point and then glissade when we could see the end.  There were plenty of people glissading, and without any way to stop themselves (no ice ax or poles).  We had ice axes and it was very helpful.  There were a lot of people going out of control.  Further down there was a glissade route that dropped off right on top of two large boulders.  Scope out the exit routes on your way up if you can remember them all by the time you are ready to come down.  Also, watch your ridges, it is very easy to glissade over monitor ridge and away from the worm flows route if that is the way you need to head back.  

It took us 16 hours total, with lots of breaks, and enjoying the day and hiking experience.  

EDIT : amazingly someone found my phone and is mailing it to me, thank you so much!

Lost Cell Phone : somewhere between 1,000 elevation below the summit to the weather station. along the east side glissade chutes. Black Google Pixel 3 with a brown/black case that says "long live the picture taker" 

If found please email watermelon4LINZ@gmail.com. I know it is a long shot but I have to try.

Anyway, the trail was great, the weather was TERRIBLE. Made it about 4.5/4.8 miles in and decided that we were sick of zero visibility and being soaked to the core. It was raining quite hard for a long time. Groups definitely made it to the crater rim but we opted to turn around knowing that we also have permits for July. The glissading down was so fun and saved so much time. Ice axe required...we picked up a lot of speed! 

Even though we didn't summit it was still an excellent day on the mountain with lots of extremely kind, friendly, and helpful people.