Mount St. Helens August 27, 2008 Climbed by Stacey Reimers
The Climb… The Facts: Elevation ~ 8,360 ft Monitor Ridge Climbing Route Gaining 4,500 feet in 5 miles Gaining 4,500 feet in 5 miles Avg. time = 7 to 12 hours (round-trip)
Elevation: 3,700’ for the Start…
The Trees are First…
Steady Incline…
Above The Timberline…
Reaching The Boulder Field…
Ash & Loose Pumice
Elevation: Inside a Cloud…
Deeper Into The Boulder Field…
Elevation: Above The Clouds…
1,300’ of Loose Ash, Pumice, Rock…
The Summit! Elevation: ~8,360’
From The Summit… The View
From The Summit… The lava dome
The Descent…
Back to The Boulder Fields…
Foggy Cloud Once Again…
Finding The Trail Again…
Follow the Posts…
Finally Some Vegetation…
Just See The Tree Line…
Almost…
Below The Clouds Again…
The Tree Line…
Off The Boulder Field…
The Nice Trail Back…
Looking Back…
The Finish… The Trek… 9.5 hours Round-trip Our muscles were quite sore the following days I wouldn’t really call it “Fun” Great Experience: pushed myself and succeeded.
Advice… Know what you’re getting into! Find out climbing conditions ask someone who has gone before Check out Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Dress appropriately: boots most important, no jeans, layers that are waterproof and easy to take off. Pack appropriately: food, water, extra clothes, safety supplies, flashlight, etc.