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Mt. St. Helens Climb (15 pics)
SirArmstrong
Registered Users Posts: 249 Major grins
7/25/2006 9:26:53 PM
Climbing crew of seven arrived at the Mt. St. Helens climbers bivouac from Bremerton Washington at about 8:30 pm, a four hour drive (including a stop for a fast dinner). Setup tents right away. Stars were bright along with a few shooting stars. What a difference it makes to get away from city lights!
7/26/2006 5:33:50 AM
Early rise. Alarm went off at 3:35 am and was at the trail head by 4:05 am. First two miles are through the forest to the tree line. The boulder field is right above the tree line and while there are many ways to ascend, the poles you can in the mid-field are the guideposts.
7/26/2006 6:17:16 AM
After a few hours Steve’s new boots and the angle of ascent have caused some warming on the heels…nothing some mole skin won’t take care of.
7/26/2006 6:39:46 AM
As we are heading up after two plus hours of hiking a look back reveals hiking bivouac, Mt. Hood, and in the far distance to the right is Mt. Jefferson.
7/26/2006 6:44:20 AM
The boulder field varies in size and provides a good scramble. Some boulders are not stable and are as large as Volkswagens so secure footing is key.
7/26/2006 7:14:53 AM
Traveled along a large snow field more than half way up the mountain. Steam was coming out most of the time and can be seen to the upper right. A little dark, but there are three members of our team in front the large rocks to the left of center, one has a white shirt.
7/26/2006 7:34:32 AM
If it were not for the snow, it looks like something from the moon. At this point, the incline increases, rocks get smaller, and there is more ash, making it even more difficult to climb.
7/26/2006 8:38:13 AM
Several hundred yards from the top and for some (like me!) this was a tough final push. The rim is where hikers are sitting at the top on the crater’s edge.
7/26/2006 9:20:14 AM
Hikers sitting on the edge of the volcano crater rim after a good hike. The seriated edge of the rim trails to the left towards the north under the watch eye Mt. Adams.
7/26/2006 10:14:10 AM
Looking northward towards Mt. Rainier, the direction of the blast and line of destruction is still evident. Logs are still floating on refashioned Spirit Lake and move at mass as the wind blows through the valley below. In the foreground, the lava dome with smoke/steam is growing at a rate of an equivalent dump truck load of rock every 15 seconds. It was hard to get a good perspective of how large the dome actually is. I could not convince anyone from our team to go down to the dome to provide a human scale perspective. I heard a recent news report (7-30-06) that stated the height of the dome to be as high as the Empire State Building and growing.
Constant rockslides could be heard echoing and occasionally seen rolling off the dome. We did not experience any particular smells, but when the winds would gust blowing fine ash was irritating.
7/26/2006 10:37:35 AM
Four of the team preparing to head back down. It was pretty windy while we were on top. Good goggles helped. Some put on gaiters, some did not. I did not put on gaiters but had higher hiking boots that worked ok in the soft ash and rocks.
7/26/2006 10:50:18 AM
Several of us attempted to glissade on the snow and speed our way down the mountain. I am sure the glissading would have been better in the spring. The snow was a little slushy and dirty from the ash being blown around the mountain side. Warning, when glissading in shorts they act as scopes to funnel all snow in the path directly up your shorts, but after about twenty seconds you cannot feel anything from the waist down.
7/26/2006 11:09:12 AM
As we head down the mountain the temperature increased. It was time to practice some clothing management and shed. Sun screen and bug spray was applied as we got close to the tree line and biting flies were beginning to feast.
7/26/2006 12:51:01 PM
A view back up the mountain at the tree line shows the boulder fields.
7/26/2006 1:43:40 PM
Nine hours and forty minutes later most of us were back at camp. I consumed all but a few sips of a three liter hydration pack. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful (in its own way) climb. Good weather, good friends, good to see the mighty hand of God at work.
Climbing crew of seven arrived at the Mt. St. Helens climbers bivouac from Bremerton Washington at about 8:30 pm, a four hour drive (including a stop for a fast dinner). Setup tents right away. Stars were bright along with a few shooting stars. What a difference it makes to get away from city lights!
7/26/2006 5:33:50 AM
Early rise. Alarm went off at 3:35 am and was at the trail head by 4:05 am. First two miles are through the forest to the tree line. The boulder field is right above the tree line and while there are many ways to ascend, the poles you can in the mid-field are the guideposts.
7/26/2006 6:17:16 AM
After a few hours Steve’s new boots and the angle of ascent have caused some warming on the heels…nothing some mole skin won’t take care of.
7/26/2006 6:39:46 AM
As we are heading up after two plus hours of hiking a look back reveals hiking bivouac, Mt. Hood, and in the far distance to the right is Mt. Jefferson.
7/26/2006 6:44:20 AM
The boulder field varies in size and provides a good scramble. Some boulders are not stable and are as large as Volkswagens so secure footing is key.
7/26/2006 7:14:53 AM
Traveled along a large snow field more than half way up the mountain. Steam was coming out most of the time and can be seen to the upper right. A little dark, but there are three members of our team in front the large rocks to the left of center, one has a white shirt.
7/26/2006 7:34:32 AM
If it were not for the snow, it looks like something from the moon. At this point, the incline increases, rocks get smaller, and there is more ash, making it even more difficult to climb.
7/26/2006 8:38:13 AM
Several hundred yards from the top and for some (like me!) this was a tough final push. The rim is where hikers are sitting at the top on the crater’s edge.
7/26/2006 9:20:14 AM
Hikers sitting on the edge of the volcano crater rim after a good hike. The seriated edge of the rim trails to the left towards the north under the watch eye Mt. Adams.
7/26/2006 10:14:10 AM
Looking northward towards Mt. Rainier, the direction of the blast and line of destruction is still evident. Logs are still floating on refashioned Spirit Lake and move at mass as the wind blows through the valley below. In the foreground, the lava dome with smoke/steam is growing at a rate of an equivalent dump truck load of rock every 15 seconds. It was hard to get a good perspective of how large the dome actually is. I could not convince anyone from our team to go down to the dome to provide a human scale perspective. I heard a recent news report (7-30-06) that stated the height of the dome to be as high as the Empire State Building and growing.
Constant rockslides could be heard echoing and occasionally seen rolling off the dome. We did not experience any particular smells, but when the winds would gust blowing fine ash was irritating.
7/26/2006 10:37:35 AM
Four of the team preparing to head back down. It was pretty windy while we were on top. Good goggles helped. Some put on gaiters, some did not. I did not put on gaiters but had higher hiking boots that worked ok in the soft ash and rocks.
7/26/2006 10:50:18 AM
Several of us attempted to glissade on the snow and speed our way down the mountain. I am sure the glissading would have been better in the spring. The snow was a little slushy and dirty from the ash being blown around the mountain side. Warning, when glissading in shorts they act as scopes to funnel all snow in the path directly up your shorts, but after about twenty seconds you cannot feel anything from the waist down.
7/26/2006 11:09:12 AM
As we head down the mountain the temperature increased. It was time to practice some clothing management and shed. Sun screen and bug spray was applied as we got close to the tree line and biting flies were beginning to feast.
7/26/2006 12:51:01 PM
A view back up the mountain at the tree line shows the boulder fields.
7/26/2006 1:43:40 PM
Nine hours and forty minutes later most of us were back at camp. I consumed all but a few sips of a three liter hydration pack. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful (in its own way) climb. Good weather, good friends, good to see the mighty hand of God at work.
Steve
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
Ansel Adams
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
Ansel Adams
0
Comments
Thank you for taking us with you!
Master Of Sushi Noms
Amateur CSS Dork
climbs after a two year closure.
Very nice shots and thanks for taking us along on a beautiful climb!
Ian
thanks for sharing and beautiful shots!
Nir Alon
images of my thoughts
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
Ansel Adams
Great story and great images.
ziggy53
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I had the privilege of flying over the area in a helo a couple of times, always wanted to do the hike. What great weather, clear skies!
And your crater shot is really good.
Nice job, thanks for sharing.
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Ana
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"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
Ansel Adams
Now if only I would have had a camera and knowledge with me the day the Mt St Helens errupted. I was camping upwind when she blew. Long time ago and we were lucky the wind didn't change direction.
Moved away before I got to see her up close like you did after. Thanks so much for sharing the adventure with us.
I miss seeing Mt Rainer. I didn't see Hood and Adams as much from our house but occasionally when traveling, camping, etc in parts of the state.
I do miss the majestic mountains of Washington State, but not the rain.
Now you should share your next trip on the ferry in the San Juan Islands with the dgrin folks. All my shots are from either 1996 or 2001 before I went digital and haven't found much time to scan negatives lately. Plus I just have a few, not really a day story like you so nicely did.
Two photos stand out for me the Mt.Hood photo and the Mt. Rainier both great.
But like they say at the old music house here "it's all good"
Fred
http://www.facebook.com/Riverbendphotos