During the summer it can take anywhere from hours roundtrip to climb the mountain. We also saw other people starting later in the day as we were just returning to our car. We woke up around am, partly from excitement, and started our hike around 5am in the morning. It was still dark out and the morning light was just beginning. As we made our way higher up the trail the views and the sunrise were amazing!
We were able to see Mt. Hood clearly lit up by the early morning sunrise. There were several times where we would stop to just take in the colors and sights. The ground was solid in the morning and there was no mud, so it was easier to hike. It took us around 7. We took a nice long 1 hour break at the top of the crater for lunch, pictures and just to take it all in!
We were back at our car at around ishpm. A good start time can be established based on an estimated pace and what hour you would like to summit. Some climbers that live locally may choose to climb Mt. Helens in a day but others can choose to camp. There are no reservations. To our surprise, even though we came pretty late the evening before our climb we easily found a spot to camp at that night.
Driving there we were already making back up plans just in case everything was taken. Another great camping area is the Marble Mountain snow-park. If that is full, Gifford Pinchot National Forest has many camping spots that are a minute drive from the trailhead. Being prepared physically for hiking up the mountain and having the right gear and things with you is super important. We learned our lesson during our climb when we thought we could find a stream to fill up with water during the climb.
To our disappointment, the stream dried up at that time of the year and there was no water! We had one 40 ounce water bottle with us to share between each other. We had enough going up but going down we were completely out.
Thankfully there were very kind people descending down the trail with us and they gave us their extra water.
My Apple Watch states it was feet elevation and Bring some snowboard googles. It can get real dusty at the top. I recommend 3 liters of water. There were no water sources and hike can be tough. Gorgeous views. Summit on October 3rd What a great experience.
Parking area is big enough and well maintained. Check the weather frequently on mountain forecast. I am in good shape and was well prepared. I went for less weight but still had all the necessary things in my small hydration backpack. Good hiking shoes, gaiters, trekking poles, my mtb gloves, neck gaiter and glasses. Also an all trails offline map just in case.
The weather was good but cloudy at first. No rain, snow or strong winds in the weather forecast. Started at am, summit after 3. Moving time was about 5.
I did spend one hour at the top but had my lunch on the way down because it was too windy for me to eat there. The forest section was beautiful and went by quickly you have blue marks on the trees that show you that you are on the right way. After that I reached the boulder section so I put away my trekking poles and started climbing.
But they function more as an orientation. Most of the time there are better paths more to the right or left of them. So I only had to climb over boulders for a short amount of time. After that I was able to use my trekking poles again and kept on hiking instead of climbing. It almost felt like I was stranded on a different planet. No vegetation, no view, and I was only able to see rocks, stones, sand and ash. But soon I did break through the cloud line and was able to see the trail, the sky and the sun.
As I turned around I got the first impressive views and was able to see Mt. I was on the last part of the trail. The sand and ash field which felt like it goes on forever. Finally I made it to the top and the views were spectacular. It looked like I was surrounded by an ocean of clouds and I was standing on the top of an island and the only things visible in the distance were the peaks of Mt. Unbelievable was also the view into the crater. Super clear. A little hazy in the distance.
I'm a beginner so it took me 10 hours to get up and back. The top few hundred feet were some of the worst. Took "short cut" trail down along the side of boulder fields which petered out causing a trail hunt expedition. The trail lived up to the reviews. The Boulder field longer then I was expecting and definitely a scramble. Felt 1 step shy of rock climbing at times.
The summit was incredible. Worth every step to get there. Use Navigator in the AllTrails app and join the other outdoor explorers who have completed this trail. Length This permit needs to be obtained many months in advance.
In the summer, Mount St. Helens Summit via Ptarmigan Trail is a nice and tough hike for users excited about elevation gain. There are 2 primary routes: the "summer" Monitor Ridge route starts at the Climber's Bivouac trailhead. Mount St. Helens is an active volcano in southwest Washington State and the central feature of the Mount St.
Helens National Volcanic Monument. This is a popular climb for both beginning and experienced mountaineers. Although people are able to climb Mount St. Helens year-round, late spring through early fall is the most popular season since most of this trail is without snow, and the route takes users to popular areas such as Spirit Lake, Coldwater Lake, the Boulder Fields, and Windy Ridge.
It is very important to review the weather forecast prior to climbing, since the experience and safety of this trail can vary drastically if attempting in poor conditions.
It is best to start very early in the morning, since both climbs rise steadily as you go up in altitude. The wind and the altitude can affect many climbers but as with all physical activity being in shape to attempt these climbs is a must.
At the summit, users have amazing views atop the clouds. Glissading makes the trip much faster coming down when there is enough snow. Although strenuous, both of these non-technical climbing routes are suitable for people in good physical condition who are comfortable scrambling on steep, rugged terrain. Most climbers complete the round trip in seven to twelve hours. While climbing to the crater rim is permitted, entry into the crater is strictly prohibited.
Climbers are allowed to camp at Climber's Bivouac with a parking permit issued with their climbing permit. Hikers who are parking at Climber's Bivouac to use trails rather than summit the volcano must have a Northwest Forest Pass displayed on the dash of their vehicle.
The trail from left to right is the Loowit Trail. There is also a restroom, your last chance before heading up the mountain. As you emerge from the timberline you will look up at Green Knoll in front of you. If you don't have a climbing permit you can not go any further than this point. As the trail ends you will make your own way up the mountain as you climb through and over large rocks.
Probably harder coming down this section than going up. You will be happy you finally made it past the boulder garden. However now you get this straight up section of ash. Lots of will and small steps will get you to your goal. Be very careful and don't go too close to the rim. To the north is Mt Rainier. I returned two years after the eruption, but I missed out on all the excitement.
When the mountain blew its top, a part of me went with it. From Interstate 5 at Woodland, take the exit for State Highway Drive past Lake Merwin and Yale Lake. Then just after the Swift Reservoir viewpoint, turn left on forest road Follow the signs to Climber's Bivouac, which involves a right turn onto forest road Please read thoroughly this page from the Mt.
Helens National Volcanic Monument for information about obtaining permits to climb Mt. A permit is required above ' on the mountain. I will not attempt to reproduce all of the red tape requirements on this page. The link above leads to the definitive source of this information. Helens is best climbed during the permit season, with optimal conditions occuring from May through September.
Additional information posted by John : However, don't let winter prevent you from hiking up this stratovolcano. Additional comment posted by ben : Climbing in the winter also means that you can avoid the scree and ash that is the bane of a summer climb - two steps up, one step backsliding. Please read this page from the Mt. Helens National Volcanic Monument for information about camping near the mountain. Click here for current weather information. The Climber's Bivouac has somewhat of a noteriety for being one big party on evenings during the summer.
If you plan on getting some sleep and want an early start, I recommend camping about yards down the approach road or perhaps off the Ptarmigan Trail. Measurements taken by GPS stations recently placed on Mt. Helens show the lava dome is expanding and earthquakes continue yet more frequent. Odds are, this Mountain will be closed to climbing for a while Update A good view into the active crater is available from Goat Mountain. Let me know what you think!
Awesome Dave!! Thanks a million. I'll make a new section on the main page and include the link. Something unexpected that we ran across was this weather station sticking out of the boulders.
This solar-powered device sends information back to volcanologists about the current state of the mountain. From all the research I did, most people said this was the hardest part for them. Many said that you take two steps forward only to go back one step. You will need to go slower than you think and your body has already been hiking Mt.
I feel like this is where my Stairmaster training came in to help me prepare for climbing Mt. I would tell myself to push with my legs while using my poles for at least a minute or two before I could stop and take a break. I wanted nothing more than to join them at the top and take a break, so that pushed me as well.
As tired as I was when I finally got to the top, all I wanted to do was stand and marvel at how amazing the sight was. We were literally standing on the rim of the crater looking into the dome of Mt. Any fatigue I had vanished, but it did get cold as my body started to cool down. There is barely room for two people to walk on it at the same time. We always made sure the other person was aware we were trying to pass them.
Be aware of your position when taking pictures and carefully walk around people on the ridge. The only pictures I took myself were further away from the edge where I felt secure in the ground I was standing on.
We also said congratulations to everyone who joined us on the rim, which was fun to talk to different people climbing Mt. We stayed at the top for an hour and all pulled out our celebration beer and lunch. Resting at the Mt. Helens summit is also an ideal time to reapply sunscreen. When you start to head down from the top, I recommend trying to slide a bit with your shoes.
I did what was similar to a skiing motion with my body and zoomed down the steep part that took forever in no time going downhill.
This slowed us down more than I expected, as we had to backtrack multiple times when we realized certain boulders would be too big to go over. Walking through the forest on the last two miles felt like a dream due to how easy it was. I grabbed the water I had stashed, poured one over me because I was so hot, and downed the other. When we got back to the campsite just before 3 pm, I stretched before getting in the car for a long ride home.
I hope this guide helps you plan your trip for climbing Mt. Helens, and please leave a comment or email me if you have any additional questions I can help with! Did you bring 5 gallons of water per person? I have never brought more than 3 liters to summit and it has been adequate every time.
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