Mt St. Helen’s Glissading
$175 | May 14, 2027 | 16 spots (Must Qaulify)
“Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so that the world can see you.”
Schedule
Depart from Rise Fitness @ 4:00 am
Carpool to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park (90 min drive)
Start Climb 6am
Return Home 6pm
Route
The Worm Flows Climbing Route is the primary route used by climbers during the winter and early spring to reach Mount St Helens Summit. Worm Flows is the most direct route to the summit of Mount St. Helens during the winter season. Ice axe, crampons or micro spikes are recommended on this route. Snow or rain pants are best for glissading. I have climbed this route 9 times and the Ptarmigan Summer Route twice.
Hike Details/Strenuous
DEPART RISE FITNESS at 4:00AM!!! OR MEET AT MARBLE MOUNTAIN SNO-PARK at 5:45AM!!! No parking permit needed at Marblemount Sno-Park
(There is a very large parking lot and one or two pit toilets inside a small building. Bring dry clothes and socks or flip flops to change into and possibly a small cooler if it’s a hot day with a cold beverage waiting for you at the end!)
From the Marble Mountain Sno-Park we use the Swift Ski Trail, #244 to reach timberline. We’ll cross to the west side of Swift Creek, just above Chocolate Falls (elev. 3,700') following ridges and open slopes to the crater rim. Wooden route marking posts will guide our climb from the timberline through the boulder fields to the crater rim. It is of utmost importance to stay clear from the cornices at the crater rim. We will glissade from right from the rim to almost the tree line. This will cut out MUCH of the strain on your knees coming down. It will require moving from chute to chute as we navigate our way down the same route we came up!
Round trip is approximately 11.5 miles/5,700 elevation gain
Total hiking time round trip approximately 7 to 10 hours
(Option to hit up the Food Carts at the end of our Adventure!)
Below are a Climbing Gear Checklist and example of micro spikes on Amazon. Only once have I rented CRAMPONS, due to a heavy snowfall season, from the Mountain Shop in Portland. Doubtful we will run into this issue and will know more a week out. The spikes help a lot with the last 2 hour slog to the summit!
The most important gear items will be:
Broken-in footwear (trail shoes or hiking boots)
Wool blend socks to prevent blisters
Trekking poles with snow baskets!
Rain pants to glissade
Backpack and fuel
LAYERS!! Windbreaker, long sleeve, hat, glasses
Criteria
It is imperative for a group effort of this magnitude that you abide by these Physical Fitness Pace Parameters.
Qualify by hiking UP Dog Mountain in under 1:23, including breaks—-No exceptions.
Complete a 10-mile hike prior to May 1st, 2027
Included
Training Plan
Climbing Gear Checklist
Permits
Guided Climb Leader in Front Group
Guided Climb Leader in Rear Group
Not Included
Transportation (car pooling is encouraged)
Food/Gear
Inclement Weather/Cancellation Policy
I have climbed St. Helens 11 times in early June. Eight of those times the weather was amazing! However, the Cascade Range is unpredictable.
St. Helens is an active stratovolcano. I will not climb in poor visibility or rain.
If May 14th is deemed unsafe, we will look at the 13th as well as the 17th. Keep those dates as buffers!!
Your $175 is NON-REFUNDABLE.
If weather plays a factor and I reschedule to the 13th or the 17th, and neither of those dates work, you will be refunded 50%.
If all THREE of these dates are deemed unsafe you will receive $125 back.