Mt. St. Helens Climb 5-16, 17-2014

Ted and Liz made it to the top!!!  8,300 feet, with 5,500 feet elevation gain.  I was so very proud of them as it is a hard, long climb.  They were so excited when they got to the top!  I think the last mile is the hardest as it is so steep.  Looks so close, yet so far way!  The views were awesome as the day was beautiful and sunny.  Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams were out and clearly visible.  They could see the steam coming out of the crater.   Ted said it poofed!  Out!   Then there was the glissading down!  That is so much fun!   That is sitting on your bottom in water proof pants and sliding down the mountain.  They said they went for quite a distance, saving them having to walk down a very steep slope.   The climb was a success.   On Saturday, May 17, our friends, John and Sharon, with a group of friends, took off this morning about 5:00 a.m. and headed up the mountain.   We chose Friday, because it was the nicer day and my birthday.   

I was so disappointed I could not make it as I hurt my back the day before we were to leave for Cougar.   It was too painful for me to climb,  so decided it was best to stay off the mountain and take care of my back.  Bummer!

We all got together Saturday night and had a potluck summit celebration!  So proud of them all!

Me and Ted at Marbel Mount Trailhead.

I hiked two miles with Ted and Liz and had to turn back because

my back was not feeling happy.

Ted heading up the trail.

Some kind of weather antenna.

Liz, climbing on the mountain.  Up, up, up!

Mt. Adams in the distance, wow, the slope looks steep!

Yay!  the summit!  Looking down into the dome.

Steam would poof out now and then.

Quite a steep edge at the top.

Liz and Ted at the top!

The fun part, glissading down!

Chip, his wife Paula, Ken, Sharon, John and Ted.  

All summated, except for Paula.

Marion and his wife, Rosemary, who also summated!

Me and my friend, Sharon.  We have had lots of adventures with her husband, John,

and my Ted for the past 20 years.  Hiking, climbing and backpacking.   And will 

have so many more in the coming years!

Ted and Roses's Climb to Camp Muir on 5-1-14

On Thursday, May 1, Ted and I decided to attempt to hike up to Camp Muir from 5400 feet to 10,000 feet.  Quite the elevation gain and a very strenuous hike.  We left from the Paradise parking lot at 7:35 a.m.  It was a beautiful bright, sunny day.  The mountain was out and the sky was clear.  We started on the uphill paths, as there were many of them.  It was getting warm.    There were not that many people, which is normal for the middle of the week.  On weekends it would be crowded, especially on a day like today.

Ted and I hiked up the very steep hill going to Panorama Point.  There were no set steps going up the hill, so it was a little difficult to climb up.   This is still the winter route.   When the snow melts, the summer route will open and be a little easier to get up.  When we got to Panorama Point, the view was amazing.  We had great views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood  and Mt. St. Helens.   After a brief break, we headed to Pebble Creek at 7300 feet.  The snow was getting mushy, so I put on my snowshoes.   Ted had put his on before starting up the steep hill.  

We made it to Pebble Creek and it was getting a little breezy, but okay, because it was warm and the breeze felt good.  We had a nice break there, then next stop would be Moon  Rocks at 9,000 feet.   I like to put wands on the Muir snow field because I like to come back the same way we hike up.  When we got to Moon Rocks it was really breezy and cool.  Ted was not feeling too well, not sure if it was the altitude or not.  After another break there, then it was the last push to Camp Muir.  Like my friend, Liz, says, it becomes a head game.   Talking yourself into doing this.  We deal with altitude, exhaustion and steepness.

When I spotted the buildings at Camp Muir, I was really excited!   Almost there!  When we got there it was very windy and cold.  Had to put on my wind pants and warmer jacket.   We had something to eat.   There was a group of people there practicing with climbing ropes  going up and down Camp Muir hill.  Ted and I decided not to stay there too long as it was really windy, so we headed down.  The snow was really mushy, so happy to have snowshoes.  It was good to finally get down off the mountain and get back to the parking lot.  It was a long hike up and back.   The day was incredible and we had a great time!  But very tired!

Beautiful day at Mt. Rainier.

Ted on the trail, looking mushy.

Coming to Pebble Creek.  Mt. St. Helens in background.

Taking a break at Pebble Creek.

Feeling good!

I can see Camp Muir!  

Ted getting closer!  

Resting at Camp Muir.   

Very cold and windy there.  Gibralter Rock behind me.

Buildings at Camp Muir.