Mount St. Helens - Worm Flows Route — Thursday, May. 9, 2024

**Backcountry Shovel - If you lost a backcountry shovel handle while skiing down on thursday - 9 May, I found it while glissading and have left it at the trailhead. pic attached.**

Report:

Went up St Helens on a sunny but super windy thursday.

Left the trailhead at 3am. Snow starts 1 mile into the hike. We were surprised to see that it was not 'hard snow' even at 3:30am.

There was some new snow from the past few days so we had to break trail on the upper sections above the weather station. The wind was blowing sleet like snow on us at times so going was slow for last 500 ft. We made it to the rim at 8:05am.

We wore mountaineering boots and spikes. Carried crampons along but did not really feel the need for them.

Summit was super windy with continuous snow blowing up from the crater.(video link below report) But the views on an open day were pristine with Rainier, Adams, Hood and Jefferson looking glorious all around.

The way to the true summit is easier with plunge stepping across the ridge. Less windy on the true summit.

The snow was really soft on the way down, glissading was just ok since the snow is starting to get too soft to move fast. Lot of post holing in lower sections of the mountain, wish we had our snowshoes here.

Overall a lovely day out. With the weather getting warmer, highly recommend early starts. 

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://photos.app.goo.gl/qwxNPEBydinYTmAA7