Mount St. Helens - Worm Flows Route — Sunday, Mar. 29, 2015

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens

We left the trailhead around 07:00. The trail was dry and in good condition. There was some snow and mud once you cross Trail #216 and get on the rocky ridgeline. Above that ridgeline were snow fields. We encountered firm, cruchy snow. About 7000' or so, the snow was more wind blown and icy. Two friends made it up with microspikes. One used poles and two of us had ice axes. I made it most of the way with just mountaineering boots but put on crampons when things got icier toward the top. There was a white-out and high winds in the last 1000' but they cleared before we made the crater rim. Views were lovely. The wind was moderate at the top. It did actually get below freezing above 7000'. The snow was somewhat slushy heading down. I would not recommend starting late. In the afternoon, the "path" through the snow was wet and chewed up by descending climbers. I would recommend mountaineering boots, crampons, and ice axes but it can be done with less. Bring layers.