Ascent of Mount Saint Helens on 2011-08-18Others in Party: | Solo ----Only Party on Mountain | Date: | Thursday, August 18, 2011 | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | Peak: | Mount Saint Helens | Location: | USA-Washington | Elevation: | 8333 ft / 2539 m |
Ascent Trip ReportStarting at 8:46, I hiked 3.2 miles to pumice plain, then moved off path, followed the East Dome lobe toward right side of hill 5314. I climbed south of East Dome, but north of Muddy River. I navigated past two rock outcroppings at 6,500 ft (on left side) and 7,200 ft (on right side). Snow fields were virtually non-existant. Everything was rock and gravel with some packed sand. I got water from at small stream in a glacier valley (7,800 ft) and continued up slowly over a bare area, reaching the rim at 8,080 ft. Dog's head was reached at 8,180 ft six and half hours after reaching trailhead. After a 30 minute scenic rest, I follow the ridgeline northward about 0.4 miles which was easy footing, even staying well clear of the rim. I descended a short section of sand, gravel and bedrock area to 7,100 ft, then continued down in a curving path toward Pumince plain. There were several stream gullies, easy to cross. It would be easier to descend the ridge, but I was not equiped for snow travel. Once I reach the ridge above windy pass, I cut down and picked up the Windy Pass trail... back to Pumice plain.
I arrived at trailhead at dusk 11 hours after start.
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Start of climb - Dog's head is near summit, right side of the notch (2011-08-18). Photo by Wm Rogers. Click here for larger-size photo. | Summary Total Data | Elevation Gain: | 6333 ft / 1928 m | Elevation Loss: | 6333 ft / 1928 m | Distance: | 14 mi / 22.5 km | Route Conditions: | Maintained Trail, Unmaintained Trail, Open Country, Scramble, Exposed Scramble | Weather: | Pleasant, Calm, Clear | Ascent Statistics | Elevation Gain: | 5733 ft / 1746 m | Extra Loss: | 600 ft / 182 m | Distance: | 5.4 mi / 8.7 km | Trailhead: | Ape Canyon TH 3200 ft / 975 m | Time Up: | 6 Hours 30 Minutes | Descent Statistics | Elevation Loss: | 5733 ft / 1746 m | Extra Gain: | 600 ft / 182 m | Distance: | 8.6 mi / 13.8 km | Trailhead: | Ape Canyon TH 3200 ft / 975 m | Time Down: | 5 Hours 30 Minutes |
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