Summer Solstice Loowit 360 - Mt St Helens Circumnavigation

NOTE: Moved up a week and placed on a Saturday.

On June 14, 2014, a group of 5 rather ambitious folks headed out from June Lake at 6:45am to hike the entire Loowit Trail around Mt St Helens. The group of 5 completed the hike, but at 2:17am the next day. It was easily the most difficult hike I had ever done. Being older and hopefully wiser (and now prepared), we are going to make it a Meetup on the longest day of the year.

The goal is to finish before night time on the same day. While this is a common trail running route in the mid-to-late summer, it is a much more difficult undertaking in June, as there is still snow on the route, the rivers are high and the trail is missing from long sections within the massive gullies at the SE corner of the mountain. The north side of the mountain in June is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen.

I will move this event in the case of unfavorable weather.

Maximum 6 folks. Due to the difficult nature of this hike, I plan to pick my team from the RSVP list.

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We shall start at June Lake TH, head north to reach the Loowit Trail #216, then start our clockwise journey around Mt St Helens:

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Through the rock canyon (still on-trail):

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Coming around to the north west corner, we must ford the Toutle River. A fast moving, roaring, river, harder than it looks in this picture:

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We will have to scramble out of the Toutle River section (on trail), via the rope:

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We may see mountain goats while crossing "The Breach" on the north side:

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..we will also cross the entire width of the Plains of Abraham:

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Then onto the rough SE corner of the mountain where there exist massive gullies with no trail, nor sand ladders.

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Distance: 32 miles

Ascent: 7200 ft

Difficulty: EXTREME (due to distance, exposure, snow, river crossings, glacier crossings, probable scrambling)

Pass: Yes (Washington Discover Pass?)

Please bring a headlamp.

Please prepared to spend the night on the mountain, just in case. We came real close to doing just that last year.

$12 for the driver(s)

No dogs. No guests.

This is not an undertaking to be taken lightly, as there is no easy "bailout" route. The area on the north side of the mountain is rather remote, rugged and incredibly beautiful.

If you work the next day (Monday), you may want to seriously consider taking that day off. I don't expect to get back into Portland until midnight.

There are long sections of exposure over Windy Pass. Be prepared.

Breaks will be short (5-7 minutes). Overall pace will be 2.5 mph. I wish to finish in 15 hours.

My Hiking Style:

I have three basic rules for hiking: 1) Be safe 2) Respect the environment and 3) Have fun! I do not consider myself a "fast" nor "slow" hiker. We will take a number of short breaks, keeping in mind to finish the hike before dark. At the end of the day, my hope is that the hiking group feels they have had an adventure for all the right reasons.

PARTICIPATE AT YOUR OWN RISK; Northwest Wilderness Group organizers are volunteers. We come prepared to lead you on a trail or off trail hike but assume no liability for your safety getting to or from the trail-head or on the hike. In case of accident, illness, or other incapacity, hikers must pay for their own medical and/or evacuation expenses, whether or not the hiker has specifically authorized them.