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Monitor Ridge

 

 

 

  • Climb 9.4 miles /15.7km with 4,600'/1,402m elevation gain
  • Climb (Monday through Friday only, April through October / Any day November - March) when guides and permits are available.

Price includes guides, round-trip transportation from the Portland, OR area, climb permits, equipment, and food.

If you wish to arrange a climb for a non-scheduled day, please call 866-936-0910, or e-mail to see if we can arrange a climb for you.

2010 Scheduled Climbs

July 16
July 30
August 13
August 27

 

Sign-up Form, call 866-936-0910, or e-mail to make your reservation.  A 50% deposit is required.  For cancellations, we will retain $25.00 of the deposit to cover the non-refundable permit charge if the spot is not filled.

 

CLIMB DESCRIPTION
The Monitor Ridge route is the most popular route on Mt. St. Helens.  It was named for the tripod mounts that used to have laser monitors installed on the ridge that measured any swelling of the mountain.  As of July 2006, some of the tripods have new sensor packages mounted on them. It's mostly a snow climb in early season, gradually becoming a trail with some rock scrambling by mid-summer.  It is a non-technical climb, but we carry helmet, crampons and an ice axe when there is snow.  We provide basic instruction in the use of the ice axe and walking with crampons as appropriate aduring the climb.

We typically leave Portland about 4 AM and drive to Cougar, WA, where we pick up our permits and register.  We then drive to the Climbers' Bivouac at 3,800'/1,159m, and head up the Ptarmigan Trail for about two miles/3.3km.  At about 4,700'/1,433m we reach the base of Monitor Ridge and begin our climb. 

Using the posts marking the route for reference, we hike and occasionally scramble up the ridge, reaching the rim at 8,365'/2,550m. 

The view from the rim is fantastic as we look down 2,000'/610m into the crater with the lava dome below.  Steam wafts from  several vents around and on the dome.  Mt. Rainier and Sprit Lake are framed in the gap to the North.  In early season, we will, of course, be careful to not venture out on the overhanging snow cornice unless we are securely belayed.

We have lunch at the rim as we take in the wonderful views in all directions.   After about an hour, depending on conditions, we will descend the same route.  When there is enough snow, we can glissade down a significant portion of the ridge.  Returning to the Climbers' Bivouac, we can change clothes and have a refreshing cool drink.  We then take a last look at the mountain and return to Portland, knowing we've had an experience we will remember for the rest of our lives. 

 

 

 

Natalie Gold and the only known sighting of SpongeBob Squarepants on the summit of Mt. St. Helens, September 2002

 

 

 

 

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Clothing

  • Leather or plastic (Spring Snow Conditions) climbing boots
  • Wool/polypropylene socks with linersocks (help prevent blisters)
  • Polypropylene or equivalent thermal underwear tops and bottoms
  • Warm sweater, fleece jacket, or wool shirt
  • Warm pants(Not Jeans!)
  • Gore-Tex (or other water-resistant material) Parka
  • Gore-Tex (or other water-resistant material) Wind pants
  • Warm hat
  • Sun hat
  • Gloves/Mittens with windproof shells (+an extra pair)
  • Gaiters to keep scree/snow out of your boots
  • Trail shorts and t-shirt

In Your Summit Pack - (Needs to have Ice Ax Loops)

  • Whistle
  • Map of area
  • Compass
  • Headlamp/Flashlight (with extra batteries and bulb or another flashlight)
  • Extra food and Clothing (wool socks, more warm things)
  • Sunscreen and lip protection
  • Pocket knifeLighter or matches in waterproof container
  • Firestarter
  • First aid kit (Let us know if you carry drugs or medicines that will make you drowsy or dizzy.)
  • Two and 1/2 Quarts of Fluids (Four on warm days!)
  • Toilet Paper
  • Small insulation pad for sitting on(tie it to your pack)
  • Handkerchief
  • Dark Sunglasses with side shields/Goggles (It can be bright and gritty on the mountain
  • Camera and Film/Memory Card

Climbing Gear

  • Ice Ax (Spring Snow Conditions)*
  • Crampons (Spring Snow Conditions)*
  • Trekking Poles*
  • Helmet (Spring Snow Conditions)* 
  • OPA Slider (Spring Snow Conditions)* 

*OPA will provide this equipment as appropriate, if you do not have your own.   We can rent packs and other gear to you.

For Equipment Recommendations click here.

 


View from Crater Rim of Dome, with Spirit Lake, Mt. Margaret Backcountry, and Mt. Rainier in background