I climbed this once when I was 11 and once when I was 15 (just this last summer). The first time I remember crossing over the first section of Monitor Ridge and seeing the summit for the first time. When I saw the summit, I lost all motivation. I ended up eating a cliff bar for the first time and getting enough energy to get up.
This summer I got about 1 hour of sleep out of anticipation for the climb the following day - probably not a good idea. Anyways, we started on the trail at exactly 8:00, and I was on Monitor Ridge by 9:00. The only time I stopped was to take my jacket off. Breaking out of the fog and being able to see for miles in a mist-filled sunlight is one of the most magical experiences of my life, and I was not expecting it. My experience with climbing and scrambling aided to cruising through Monitor Ridge in under an hour (9:45). I was still not remotely experiencing fatigue at this point and got to the top in under 30 minutes (Summit at 10:11). I was extremely happy with this and am looking forward to Adams and Rainier in 2020.
~Nick Stoker (Infinity Mountaineering/The Mountain Range Project)
Found this one surprisingly easy for a fairly large mountain! Stellar views from the crater rim, never seen anything like it. Great visibility to Rainier, Adams, Hood, even Jefferson in the distance. Start early or just hike fast to get ahead of the slow-moving crowds...my friend and I didn't start until 7 or so but passed pretty much everyone on the trail going up and had the summit to ourselves for a while before the masses started to catch up!
alexewhitney85 - Sep 12, 2019 12:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 16, 2019
Worm Flows Route
Beautiful clear day, and a fantastic glissade down almost 4k feet from the summit to treeline.
Suzannemilee - Sep 11, 2019 10:51 am Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2019
Amazing!
Go early, bring water.
cascadescrambler - Aug 21, 2019 11:02 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 1976
When it was 1312 feet higher
One of my most fun glacier climbs - up the Forsyth Glacier, plus a 1000 foot glissade off the Dog's Head in a track so deep it looked like a bobsled run
Perfect weather and conditions for an excellent climb with Michael and Brian (and several hundred of our closest friends). Trip Report
wojcock - May 22, 2019 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2019
First Volcano of the year
Only 6 days after getting married I decided to send this bad boi. when of the first 10 people to make the summit followed by a huge group. Sent first glissade tracks back down!
travel_murse - Mar 24, 2019 10:09 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2018
36 hours awake
2 steps up 1 step down
utclimber - Jan 18, 2019 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 21, 2018
Monitor Ridge
Hiked up Monitor Ridge after getting a last minute permit. Round trip in about 4 hours 40 minutes.
cherzan - Jan 10, 2019 8:18 am Date Climbed: Nov 17, 2018
Last clear weekend
Caught the last clear weekend before the winter weather really set in. The summer route was open and clear.
Dundeel - Nov 27, 2018 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
MSH
Had a difficult time, at the rim, trying to explain to a young man what the mountain looked like before the blast.
kronshage3 - Nov 13, 2018 7:04 am Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2018
Via Monitor Ridge
A great late season trip. Trailhead was accessible to pretty much any kind of vehicle. No snow until treeline, even then it was spotty. The route wasn't completely covered in snow/ice until around 6,000 feet at least. Spikes are highly suggested. You can get by with just trekking poles, but an ice axe was handy. Lots of sun and no wind at the summit made for a fantastic day. Probably a few dozen people on the route today. I bet a decent amount of them didn't make it to the ridge (late starters) and most others probably just went to the rim, not the summit.
emilie - Aug 24, 2018 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2018
Lucky day
Lucky day with no smoke and great weather. Great workout. Amazing views. Really nice people on the trail.
baloodh2000 - Aug 10, 2018 11:42 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2018
Mock Guide
Mock Guided Ryan up this. Practiced specifically time management and significant work/rest cycle planning. Ryan is a hip replacement patient who has been walking / hiking since his surgery in May. Risk Management and guiding through the boulder field was a core focus as well. Excellent Summit. Started at 1:00 to avoid hiking in the heat. Night navigation was pretty straight forward and it was a beautiful sun rise atop the Volcano. Notables: first time in my career getting permit checked by an NPS ranger. Felt nice to be prepared. Maps were good. GAIA was excellent and the planning and research of the route went really well. Looking forward to finishing a summer of Mock Guiding so I can do it for real next year! Got to lightly use my WFR training with a member of a different party headed up. Showed signs of Dehydration / Heat Exhaustion / AMS and advised she turn back if symptoms continued in the next hour without relief. Promoted extra hydration and electrolytes as a start point. Really great to be ready for these types of things. I LOVE MY JOB!
InfinityMountaineering03 - Oct 3, 2019 1:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2019
NonstopI climbed this once when I was 11 and once when I was 15 (just this last summer). The first time I remember crossing over the first section of Monitor Ridge and seeing the summit for the first time. When I saw the summit, I lost all motivation. I ended up eating a cliff bar for the first time and getting enough energy to get up.
This summer I got about 1 hour of sleep out of anticipation for the climb the following day - probably not a good idea. Anyways, we started on the trail at exactly 8:00, and I was on Monitor Ridge by 9:00. The only time I stopped was to take my jacket off. Breaking out of the fog and being able to see for miles in a mist-filled sunlight is one of the most magical experiences of my life, and I was not expecting it. My experience with climbing and scrambling aided to cruising through Monitor Ridge in under an hour (9:45). I was still not remotely experiencing fatigue at this point and got to the top in under 30 minutes (Summit at 10:11). I was extremely happy with this and am looking forward to Adams and Rainier in 2020.
~Nick Stoker (Infinity Mountaineering/The Mountain Range Project)
Annalikeslenses - Sep 28, 2019 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2019
Never been on a mountain with half of it missing!Found this one surprisingly easy for a fairly large mountain! Stellar views from the crater rim, never seen anything like it. Great visibility to Rainier, Adams, Hood, even Jefferson in the distance. Start early or just hike fast to get ahead of the slow-moving crowds...my friend and I didn't start until 7 or so but passed pretty much everyone on the trail going up and had the summit to ourselves for a while before the masses started to catch up!
alexewhitney85 - Sep 12, 2019 12:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 16, 2019
Worm Flows RouteBeautiful clear day, and a fantastic glissade down almost 4k feet from the summit to treeline.
Suzannemilee - Sep 11, 2019 10:51 am Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2019
Amazing!Go early, bring water.
cascadescrambler - Aug 21, 2019 11:02 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 1976
When it was 1312 feet higherOne of my most fun glacier climbs - up the Forsyth Glacier, plus a 1000 foot glissade off the Dog's Head in a track so deep it looked like a bobsled run
marieg - Jul 30, 2019 1:42 pm
Great HikeCan't remember the year, but my dog Scooter Bug made it to the top with us! :)
dannydeckers - Jun 20, 2019 8:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2013
Hot SnowI remember it being super hot and the summit being super sketchy. Would love to do it again
bluecappo - Jun 18, 2019 12:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2017
MSHGreat climb up after a spontaneous invite from an old friend. Perfect weather - we had almost no snow travel this time of year.
Super Dave - Jun 15, 2019 3:43 pm
MSHPerfect weather and conditions for an excellent climb with Michael and Brian (and several hundred of our closest friends). Trip Report
wojcock - May 22, 2019 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2019
First Volcano of the yearOnly 6 days after getting married I decided to send this bad boi. when of the first 10 people to make the summit followed by a huge group. Sent first glissade tracks back down!
travel_murse - Mar 24, 2019 10:09 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2018
36 hours awake2 steps up 1 step down
utclimber - Jan 18, 2019 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 21, 2018
Monitor RidgeHiked up Monitor Ridge after getting a last minute permit. Round trip in about 4 hours 40 minutes.
cherzan - Jan 10, 2019 8:18 am Date Climbed: Nov 17, 2018
Last clear weekendCaught the last clear weekend before the winter weather really set in. The summer route was open and clear.
Dundeel - Nov 27, 2018 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
MSHHad a difficult time, at the rim, trying to explain to a young man what the mountain looked like before the blast.
kronshage3 - Nov 13, 2018 7:04 am Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2018
Via Monitor RidgeA great late season trip. Trailhead was accessible to pretty much any kind of vehicle. No snow until treeline, even then it was spotty. The route wasn't completely covered in snow/ice until around 6,000 feet at least. Spikes are highly suggested. You can get by with just trekking poles, but an ice axe was handy. Lots of sun and no wind at the summit made for a fantastic day. Probably a few dozen people on the route today. I bet a decent amount of them didn't make it to the ridge (late starters) and most others probably just went to the rim, not the summit.
chaselanphear - Sep 26, 2018 8:20 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2018
Mount St. HelensFirst Washington Volcano
xbaghat - Sep 4, 2018 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2017
twenty-three 4000prom...
emilie - Aug 24, 2018 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2018
Lucky dayLucky day with no smoke and great weather. Great workout. Amazing views. Really nice people on the trail.
baloodh2000 - Aug 10, 2018 11:42 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2018
Mock GuideMock Guided Ryan up this. Practiced specifically time management and significant work/rest cycle planning. Ryan is a hip replacement patient who has been walking / hiking since his surgery in May. Risk Management and guiding through the boulder field was a core focus as well. Excellent Summit. Started at 1:00 to avoid hiking in the heat. Night navigation was pretty straight forward and it was a beautiful sun rise atop the Volcano. Notables: first time in my career getting permit checked by an NPS ranger. Felt nice to be prepared. Maps were good. GAIA was excellent and the planning and research of the route went really well. Looking forward to finishing a summer of Mock Guiding so I can do it for real next year! Got to lightly use my WFR training with a member of a different party headed up. Showed signs of Dehydration / Heat Exhaustion / AMS and advised she turn back if symptoms continued in the next hour without relief. Promoted extra hydration and electrolytes as a start point. Really great to be ready for these types of things. I LOVE MY JOB!
markhadland@gmail.com - Jul 3, 2018 4:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2015
First volcano summitSuccessful summit with my son Carter Hadland