Mount St. Helens - Worm Flows Route — Saturday, Apr. 26, 2025

Climbing St. Helens has now become part of my regular training for Mt. Rainier. Hit the trail at 0545, snow free for a little more than a mile, then intermittent for another half mile, and then solid after that. Snow was firm but didn't require crampons until hitting the climbing trail itself at the end of the Swift Creek Loop trail. Foggy up to about the 6,000ft level when the mountain popped out.  Last year, on the final 1,000 foot push took a route the skiers were following slightly to the east, this year followed the other climbers on a steeper more direct route to the summit, which shaved off a nice bit of distance and time. Great views of Adams once above the cloud layer, light breeze kept it nice and cool.  Hit the crater rim around noon, nice view of Rainier.  Only one yellow wand to warn climbers of the cornice, which is very large this year. Glissades were epic, perfect conditions, close to 3,000 feet of drop in about half an hour. Cloud layer totally burned off for a nice sunny final descent to the parking lot.