Let's Climb Mount Saint Helens- Fast Pace Alpine Start Winter Climb

MSH in winter is one of our favorite volcano climbs. We have visited the mountain every year in winter for many years.

Join Matthew, Cindy, Lili, and Michael on this endurance adventure.

The views in winter on a clear sunny day can be very majestic and memorable.

Winter conditions (snow and ice) present a great opportunity to keep your skills sharp and to gain new skills.

This is a challenging hike with significant gain and solid stats. The first 2.5 miles is a warm-up gaining about 500 feet. Shortly after Chocolate Falls, the trail gains over 5000 feet in about 2.7 miles. This will help will kick start your 2026 climbing season and prepare you for other major climbs later in 2026.

This climb will help you condition, plan, work as a team, build endurance and stamina, manage mental and physical toughness, and learn safety skills for winter climbing. Develop overall winter skills- ice ax, crampons, glissading, understand avi risk/conditions, and more. You will gain some sweat equity and significant currency of toil!!

Reach out if you have moderate skills and would like to climb with us. I can provide training and conditioning tips; plus, mountaineering skills feedback to help prepare you.

Join the waitlist to considered and added to the confirmed team.

Plan:
Conditions permitting, the dates may change as we get closer to the event date.
Leave the Seattle area around 12pm or so and drive to the trailhead.
Car camp at the trailhead
Alpine start around 3 or 4am
Hike the Worm Flows route
Follow the route up to the true summit which is about 1/3 mile west of the false summit and 150 feet higher.
With slightly easier route and less ice/wind conditions, the majority of climbers go to the false summit. We are not going to the false summit.
Enjoy the views for about 30 minutes or so.
Hike back down the same route to the TH and drive back to the Seattle area.
We might stop for dinner on the way back- team consensus.

Stats:
Highest point: 8364 feet
Gain- 5700 feet
Distance- 10.5 miles RT

Gear:
Stiff boots
Ice ax
Crampons
Gaiters
Warm clothing with layers and wind rain/snow protection. NO COTTON
Sun protection
Food and water for the day
Hiking poles
Snowshoes - depending on temperature and conditions at the time

Climbing Route:
As listed on Alltrails

Helpful Links:
More about the route and climb from the USFS
More information from WTA

Transportation and Carpooling:
Carpooling will be arranged and coordinated before we leave to the trailhead.
two to three passengers per vehicle
Passengers should contribute toward the cost - typically about .20 or .30 cents per mile x total miles divided by the number of people in the car.

Directions:
From the town of Cougar, drive east on Lewis River Road, which turns into Forest Road 90. Continue on FR 90 until the intersection with Forest Road 83. Turn left on FR 83 and continue approximately 6 miles to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. During the winter and early spring, FR 83 is gated at the Sno-Park.
Sno-park permit required for each vehicle