10292011 Mount St Helens Hike To The Summit

Length: 10.5 miles or 17km loop hike.
Elevation Gain: 4450ft or 1.5km or 1 mile.
Difficulty: Very Difficult


Permits are required for this hike which cost $22 per person. Trail is open from Late Spring through Fall. We got to book now because only 100 climbers are permitted per day and for the 22nd left only 7!! Here's the link: https://secure.kinsail.com/calendar.asp?p=mshi&pt=parks&ItemID=494604&GroupID=18101


From hiker review:
The trail is well marked both in the forested areas as well as on the mountain itself. On the mountain the trail is designated by tall posts. As you begin the hike/climb you will hike for the first couple miles in dense forest. The trail gets increasingly steeper each step of the way.


At a couple miles you will cross the Loowit Trail that circles Mt St Helens. There is a restroom there for your convenience. Then the trail gets very steep. You remain in the trees for another half mile or so, then you break out into the open. At this point you must find your way to the top of the mountain by following the pole markers well placed almost all the way. The trail follow Monitor Ridge to the top of the mountain.



The steepness is not the most difficult part of this hike. It seems to me that negotiating your way through the lava boulders is the greatest challenge, especially when you are coming down the mountain. Never the less, this hike is so very worth it. It just doesn't get any better than this. There are no technical aspects of this hike, and yet you end up on top of a real mountain.


Of course the views are everything.


Another review here: http://www.naturalbornhikers.com/MountSaintHelens/MountstHelens.htm

Essential Things To Prepare/Bring:
1. Chains for the shoes (expected snow at higher altitudes).
2. Thick clothing, jacket, wind breaker and gloves.
3. Food to eat halfway because no fast food outlet at the mountain =)
4. Enough water e.g. 2 liters at least OR Gatorade. 
5. Power bars.
6. Hiking sticks (optional)


Probably will start hiking at 7am and the average hiker duration is approximately 10 hours. With this it is about 850 meters per 30 minutes. If so we would be done by 5pm and back to Hillsboro @ 7pm-8pm. I would expect only a maximum of 4 people for this day hike.