Andrea and I drove up to Mt. St. Helens yesterday. After driving way to far, we found the climbers bivouac where the Ptarmigan trail starts the ascent to the rim. We didn’t have a climbing permit so we legally couldn’t go above 4800′. We hiked about two miles to the tree line and got up into the lava field that starts the main trail to the top at about 5000 ft. Since we had gotten a late start, we played around in the snow a bit, enjoyed the view then turned around and headed back. It was a really nice climb and I’d love to get up to the rim someday. The view was somewhat marred by the poor air quality caused by the fall burns which are currently in full effect.

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Andre and Dusty in someones snow cave which was quickly melting in the afternoon sun.

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Dusty and I.

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Mt. Adams to the east.

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Looking down the lava field to the south.

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A lava talus slope.

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Light shining through the dense forest on the way down.

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The sun going down on the mountain.

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Last light.