A climb of Mt. St. Helens by the winter route, worm flows, in June of 2009. The trailhead is at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park at around 2,650 feet. This gives a total vertical gain on this route of around 5,700 vertical feet and a round-trip distance of around 9 miles. On this route, the fairly well marked Swift ski trail is followed to Chocolate Falls which is near tree-line. Good camping options are available near the falls. From the falls, you follow a rugged lava flow ridge, one of the "worm flows" up to snowfields below the summit. The worm flows are marked occasionally by posts, but these are fairly far apart and not always visible, particularly in fog. From the top of the worm flows you head directly up the snow fields to the summit. The descent could be tricky in bad visibility as the snow field topography is complex and you could easily descend the wrong gully. In fog wands could be useful.
Along the approach below Chocolate Falls:
Along the approach below Chocolate Falls:
Near Chocolate Falls:
Near treeline:
Chocolate Falls:
Scrambling the worm flow ridge:
Looking down from near the top of the worm flow:
Looking up at the summit:
Breaking out of the fog and looking down at the marine layer below from 8000 feet:
Subtle subalpine details:
The world of ice, rock, and fog near the summit:
Fracture along the summit cornice:
No comments:
Post a Comment