Got my permit and drove to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park early AM on a Friday, for a solo hike up St. Helens. FYI, there's a rest station in Cougar. The Sno-Park has porta-potties plus a shelter with wood stove.
I took ice axe, shovel, microspikes and crampons, leaving snowshoes in the car as there was no evidence of any significant recent snowfall. Snowshoes were definitely not needed, but I later wished I had taken my hiking poles, as I think they would have been more helpful than axe for most of the ascent.
Ascent: Started on the trail at 0630 under clear skies. Register book showed 20~30 people already on the trail ahead of me. Skiers plus a few snowboarders definitely outnumbered us hikers. The entire trail was snow-covered with a well-established boot track. Snow was firm for most of the way up, but variable after around the halfway point with intermittent areas of firm but kickable snow, icy wind-swept crust, and a few sections with some powder (likely wind blown).
Spikes worked really well most of the way, but there were a couple spots where crampons would have been more secure. I put on crampons in one spot then removed them soon afterwards since they slowed me down. I arrived at the crater rim around noon, then proceeded left to check out the true summit. Didn't see any tracks heading towards the summit (which also featured a sizeable cornice), so I decided breaking trail solo to get there wasn't worth the risk/effort.
Descent: Snow on the upper half of the mountain remained prettty variable and mostly firm/crusty despite being well exposed to clear sunny skies all morning. Dropping below 4~5k the snow started to soften up and got increasingly soft and slushier all the way down to the Swift Creek crossing. On the final stretch of the trail I found a dropped OR glove, then soon afterwards came across a gloveless hiker. Glove & owner were happily reunited. Arrived back at the car at 330pm.
Overall it was a beautiful day to be out on a big mountain.
Comments
Anna Roth on Mount St. Helens - Worm Flows Route
Great intel and really nice first photo! Sounds like a nice day.
Posted by:
Anna Roth on Apr 12, 2021 06:16 PM
nekopunch on Mount St. Helens - Worm Flows Route
Thanks! I was lucky to get that first photo, as my phone died soon afterwards. Like me, it needed a recharge. :)
Posted by:
nekopunch on Apr 12, 2021 07:08 PM