Mt St Helens summer summit

Today I joined four first-timer mountaineers on a hike up the popular Monitor Ridge summer route.  Our neighbors Jamie and Matt asked me to go along a few months back with Jamie's brother Mark and wife Emily.  

All went well on another fine CAVU day on the mountain.  Click for the rest of the pics and flicks.

Frank's 50th birthday MSH summit party

Yesterday, Frank M decided to spend his 50th birthday snowboarding off the summit of Mt St Helens, and I got to go with him!   He picked an incredible day with the mountain still covered in unusually late snow, bright sunshine and air so calm the birthday candles wouldn't blow out at the summit antic birthday party.

We made great time to the summit in less than 5 hours, lunched on cupcakes and whisky, then shredded downhill almost 3 miles of beautiful backcountry spring snow, losing 4000' feet over the 40 minute freeride.  Incredible.  Especially for Frank's 6th time on a snowboard!

Click here for pics and flicks to prove we don't make this stuff up. 

Mt Hood summit: Like April only it's June

Justin S, Frank M and I enjoyed the summit to ourselves after spending 7 hours of our Flag Day - 14.Jun.2011 - climbing up to hold a US Flag at the highest point in Oregon.   Did you catch that in the news? 

It was Justin's first summit experience, and he was pretty stoked, especially after doing most of training in a stairwell in Manhattan.    My Mt Hood summit log now reads 27 and Frank's approaching double digits, sort of like his age only smaller.

Mountain conditions were more like April than mid-June, sort of like the weather in the rest of the state.   Icy, colder than expected, windy and lots more snow cover than normal, from the Timberline Lodge parking to the summit. 

Click here for 20 pics of the day. 

Spring training #4: Ruckel Ridge/Creek loop

Our team of six (Renee, me, Shannon, Nate, Frank And Kellie) polished off one of the Columbia Gorge's monster hikes yesterday . . . the infamous Ruckel Ridge / Creek loop.  9 miles, 3800' gain, team time a bit over 7 hours, why hurry on this glorious May 1 day?   Wow, what a display of spring wildflowers today!

Click here for pics and flicks. Click here for our route map.

Spring training #3: Dog Mt

The hills were alive today with climb teams in training, despite the overcast, drizzle and wind, which the devoted didn't really seem to notice.   It was just another beautiful day in paradise!

Our team of 4 (Margaret, Frank, Ron, me) completed the 7m loop, 2700' gain, in 3.5 hours, socialized, and even had coffee twice in Stevenson.   Click for map.

We even ran into team Gamer, Svensson, Mattern, Fear, Belt!

Spring training #2: Hamilton Mountain

Our training team of 6 made the round trip on the loop trail in about 4 hours, super day, no rain/wind.   Lots of water in the waterfalls and side creeks, trilliums in bloom, and the hills alive with hikers and climbers-in-training.

Click here for our actual map.


Click here for 15 pics. 

TR: Devil's Rest

Ron G and I knocked out this sweet loop hike in 3:15 today.  7.5 miles, 2400' gain.  Rained most of the time, although above 1500' there was very little rain.  Devil at the top assures no view even on a clear day, so this one is great on a rainy day.   Highlights were surreal mossy scenery, loaded waterfalls, magical Waukeena Springs.   Our gps map here:

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/hbIyvOT_apI

2011 spring training hike lineup

Here's the plan:
Mar 27: Devil's Rest via Waukeena / http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike10.html
Apr 3: Hamilton Mountain / http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike29.html
Apr 10: Dog Mountain / http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike48.html
Apr 17: On your own
Apr 24 Easter: On your own
May 1: Ruckel Ridge / Creek Loop / http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Ruckel_Ridge_Loop_Hike
May 8: Mt St Helens Summit Mother's Day classic; get a dress! / http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/541032
May 15: Palmer snowfield hike from Timberline Lodge