First time on this trail, and it was a very last minute decision. I was literally on my way to Oregon for a different hike when I looked across I-5, said "You know what, St Helens looks lovely today" and immediately picked a random trail on the south side.
Trail is pretty interesting. Starts out immediately in a lava bed, which is just 10/10 presentation. After a short while you go into the trees and start climbing. My final goal was to make it up to the Loowit Trail, and the total climb isn't too much. One 500' in 0.9 mile section right before Butte Camp. And then a slightly steep 500' in 0.6 miles right after Butte Camp.
Butte Camp itself is in fine shape. Tons of running water there. Moving on up to the Loowit Trail, on the switchbacks you get views of Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson, and then once you're at the top of the switchbacks it's snow. Only for 0.5 miles, but it's pretty thick and might take a minute to melt out. In any case, Treeline at 4700' is definitely worth getting to, the views of Mt St Helens are pretty impressive. Expansive fields of basalt and andesite, with pumice and ash strewn about.
One downside to this hike: the mosquitos were brutal in the morning. They died down a little on the way back, but going up at 8:00-9:30 it was miserable. Just so many of them, only relenting past Butte Camp. Considering how much standing water there is at Butte Camp and how sheltered it is from the wind if you're staying overnight be ready. Moving did nothing to help the situation, and they were really into my left tricep specifically. I stopped counting after bite number 30, and that was before I even made it to the camp. Heck, they were mobbing my car before I even stepped out.
Not the worst mosquitos I've ever seen but. It was miserable.
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