My second summit on St. Helens - last Wednesday.
4 miles, 4000 ft gain, 4 hours
Weather - 50 mph winds with wet fog from about 6500' to 8000'. Sun came and went with a farily good shot of the crater and dome.
Lots of unprepared climbers in jeans and sweatshirts - 20 of 100 people summited by my estimate.

Enjoy












Summit in sight between fog storms...




Crater

, nice Pics!

Looks like a  great time. Please tell us about you kit. Thanks for the pics.

Looks like fun, I'm gonna have to do that some time.
I imagine Mt St Helens is one of the easier climbs on the west coast? I imagine Mt Adams isn't too bad either, but Olympia and Hood seem to be more popular and end up in the news a lot more when someone does something stupid or has some bad luck.

wheres the summit gun porn?

how difficult is the climb?  how many hrs?

Awesome Pics!  I really wanted to climb St. Helens this summer, but due to my work schedule I have not been able to.  I need to get back in shape to make this hike.  Next years goal is to summit St. Helens.

As Ilike9's mentioned could you please share what gear you used.

Thanks,

Scott

Gear for climbing St Helens is all non-technical.  I guess hiking poles and knowing how to use a rope are about as high tech as it gets.

Rope is for emergency only. Poles help with ascending / descending the loose sand (Scree).

Most important gear, and why so many failed that day, is Gortex or other breathable waterproof pant/coat. I use a Mt Hardware Exposure II parka. I don't like wet/cold, and at 45 I'm smart enough to prepare.

It takes 6-8 round trip with about 4.5 up for people in decent shape. I've seen fat-asses do it. It just takes determination; especially when your heart is beating out the top of your head at 7500' (Summit is in sight at this point and is at 8100').

Everything you need to know is here Climbing  Mt St Helens

I take the 10 essentials in a medium size day pack (Google 10-esentials), 2 quarts of water..more it's hot and sunny. Extra food. Extra polypropylene clothes. Cell phone, GPS (needed it this trip with the fog on the way down).

Hope this helps. And oh, no gun. I thought about my SW Air Weight but was unsure of WA laws in this type of forest...I had a big knife though...

Awesome.  Way to go.

That is so funny about folks basically taking a summer stroll.

The last two climbs I went on were failures to summit because most of the folks in my party were unprepared. Both were in August and both ended up being snowy days.  A couple years back we were  hiking up the North Sister.  Everyone had crampons, axes etc.  They were smart and experienced enough.  But when we were packing for the climb in the early morning they were giving me a hard time for packing Gore Tex Parka, Goggles, Extra pants etc.  

They were saying things like "It's not February"  I was a little pissed at that because I hate getting most of the way there and not making it all the way.

Well it was February on the mountain that day - snowing and cold . . .     in August.

Quoted: Lots of unprepared climbers in jeans and sweatshirts

Is it any wonder that the majority of search & rescue is to find people like that, who get stranded shortly after saying, "ain't nuthin gonna happen we're just takin' a walk is all..."

Thanks for the pics, I definitely want to do St Helens as well.

Quoted: Quoted: Lots of unprepared climbers in jeans and sweatshirts Is it any wonder that the majority of search & rescue is to find people like that, who get stranded shortly after saying, "ain't nuthin gonna happen we're just takin' a walk is all..." Thanks for the pics, I definitely want to do St Helens as well.

Thanks for sharing your gear.

I see many hikers that are unprepared all the time, and it makes me wonder if they will end up on the 5:00 PM news.

I usually am over prepared when I go on my day hikes.  End up taking too much gear, but at least I have it if I need it.