Got a last minute weekday permit (!) and made a detour to fast-hike the summer route on my way home to Seattle. I'd ski toured Worm Flows before, but hadn't checked out Monitor Ridge.
The first couple miles of the trail weave through a beautiful forest before emerging below the lava "rock garden." Although there does appear to be a trail through certain sections, I found it really hard to follow consistently. As a result, I was off-route a good portion of the time and ended up doing some class II scrambling. This made for slow going, and I was really glad I left early (departed TH 0545) to avoid the hot mid-day sun. Being that this was my third volcano summit in a week, I was also being extra cautious knowing that I was tired.
The final push to the crater rim - affectionately known as the "vertical beach" due to the sandy nature of the trail - wasn't that bad, honestly. I didn't bother wearing gaiters because it was just too hot. Stopped and took off my boots on the way down to shake out the rocks.
My total moving time for the day (up/down) was ~5 hours. It's recommended to bring ~4L water; I brought less knowing my pace would be fast, but if you're planning to move slower or will be out in the heat of the day, go with the advised amount. Also remember to bring a hat, sunglasses and some light gloves to protect your hands in the rock garden.
Comments