Mount St. Helens

Welcome to Mount Saint Helens, a place of profound devastation, geological majesty, and astonishing ecological rebirth. We are standing within the Pacific Northwest of the United States, a beautifully rugged region that lies…

Our journey begins in the pitch black hours of the early morning, often around three o'clock, at the trailhead for the Worm Flows route. The air here at the Climber's Bivouac is crisp and biting, carrying the scent of pine and…

Approaching the two mile mark of our ascent, the first pale rays of twilight begin to pierce the horizon, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the lower timberline. We pause here to rest our legs, sip some water, and take in the…

As we cross the three mile threshold, the welcoming dirt trails and young vegetation abruptly give way to a brutal, unyielding landscape of jagged rock and extensive boulder fields. The physical exertion here intensifies…

We have now reached an elevation of roughly seven thousand feet, arriving at the edge of the permanent, steep snowfields. Climbers refer to this crucial transition zone as Crampon Point. …

Pushing past seven thousand feet, the physical toll of the climb becomes immense. We are navigating the steep upper chutes, moving slowly and methodically, kicking steps into the icy surface. …

We have finally conquered the punishing ascent, arriving breathless and awestruck at the summit crater rim, standing at eight thousand three hundred sixty six feet above sea level. The panoramic views from this jagged precipice…

Turning our gaze away from the distant horizons, we step carefully to the absolute edge of the rim and look straight down into the abyss. We are staring into a massive, one mile wide, horseshoe shaped amphitheater that was…

As the afternoon sun begins its slow descent, it is time for us to step back from the dizzying precipice and begin our long journey back down the mountain. For many climbers, the descent offers a thrilling, rapid alternative to…