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!