Mount Saint Helens weekend with the PWC

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-041 — First view on the hike in

Another climb of Mt Saint Helens this year with the Peninsula Wilderness Club.

We drove down on the afternoon of Saturday the 11^th of June and set up camp at the Marble Mountain Snow Park. Isaac, Paul and I, who all rode together, went off to explore the upper Ape Cave while everyone else socialized around camp. We had a great time clambering over huge rocks that were once part of the cave ceiling but had collapsed and left a big jumbled mess to get around. There was also the waterfall section, which is a 9 foot tall headwall that one has to scramble over. We had a good time exploring and we even saw a bat flitting around the entrance to the cave on our way out.

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-006 — Paul and Isaac hiking through Ape Caves

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-007 — Isaac hiking through Ape Caves

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-008 — Help me find my keys and we'll drive out!

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-009 — Paul and Isaac hiking through Ape Caves

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-010 — Isaac climbing over the "waterfall" in Ape Caves

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-014 — Isaac hiking through Ape Caves

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-002 — Isaac hiking through Ape Caves

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-017 — The exit

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-021 — Paul climbing out

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-022 — Isaac climbing out

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-023 — A last look back

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-027 — Sunset

Back at camp we had some snacks and some drinks before calling it a night.

The next day, June 12^th, we were up at the ass crack of dawn packing our stuff away getting ready for the climb. When I climbed Saint Helens the previous year, we were able to start from Climber’s Bivouac, but this year, due to the heavy snowfall over the winter and cold spring we were having, the road to Climber’s Bivouac was still closed. This meant 1500 feet or so of elevation more would have to be gained from the snow park than if we could have started from Climber’s Bivouac. The climb itself is a pretty straightforward, one step at a time sort of endeavor and no special climbing gear is necessary except for an ice axe for the glissade down. In icier conditions, crampons or tractions devices such as microspikes might be necessary. In the summer, when the snow has all melted, the climb is a dusty, rocky mess of a slog to the top.

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-037 — The group shot

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-043 — Beautiful Morning to be on the mountain

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-044 — Beautiful Morning

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-053 — Permits require above 4800'

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-058 — Tents below, Mt Hood in the distance

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-059 — Mt Hood in the distance

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-062 — Misty mountain

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-063 — Heading up the worm flows

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-064 — Barbra

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-065 — Isaac

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-066 — Break time

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-068 — Clouds beginning to come in

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-073 — A lone skier

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-076 — A lone skier

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-069 — Going up

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-074 — Almost there!

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-081 — Looking into the crater of Mt Saint Helens from the rim.

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-094 — Greg on the rim, Mt Adams in the distance

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-095 — Paul on the rim, preparing to descend

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-097 — Doug preparing to descend

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-099 — Melony on the way down

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-100 — Doug on the descent

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-105 — Some of the gang on the descent

2011-06-12 Mount Saint Helens Climb-103 — Yours truly

All 16 of us made it to the top, except for a couple skiers in our group that found more fun in skiing the lower slopes where the snow was better. All in all, it was another good PWC outing.

To climb Saint Helens you will need strong legs, a permit, a NW Forest Pass, and don't forget the ten essentials.

For Isaac's account of the story, follow this link.

Jay's Journeys

Mount Saint Helens weekend with the PWC

Leave a Reply Cancel reply