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Mount St. Helens Climb – Monitor Ridge

  • Start date: 08/17/2025

  • Start time: 5:30 AM

  • End date: 08/17/2025

  • End time: 5:30 PM

Description:

Join us for a climb of the standard summer route on Mt. Saint Helens, Monitor Ridge. This non-technical route hikes a maintained trail then a well-traveled climbers trail to the crater rim. Loose footing, boulder hopping, and a couple of minor scrambles 'spice up' the hike. Total elevation gain is 4600 ft, like doing Mt. Pisgah 4.5 times in a shorter distance over a long day, though not at a sprint pace(!). We will meet at 5:15 AM on climb day so plan on spending the night at the Climbers Bivouac trailhead campground (or nearby) as it's a 4-5 hour drive from Eugene). Suggested donation to drivers is $40.70.

Photo by: Steve Davis

  • Event Leader: Steve Davis

  • Event Leader Phone: 832-527-1756

  • Event Leader Email: lunaripple1@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader: Berit Everhart

  • Event category: Climbs

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 370

  • Season: 2025

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Boots with heels, layers for any kind of weather (no cotton), trekking poles (optional), 10 essentials, personal 1st aid kit, food and water (2-3 L) for a long day.

  • participant prerequisites: Participants should be physically fit and capable of a steep, long, unbroken ascent for 4-5 hours.

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 9

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 4600 ft

  • Non-Member Fees: 15

  • Committee: Climbs

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

6 Obsidians tackled the Monitor Ridge route on Mount Saint Helens and successfully ascended to the crater rim. We had a beautiful, cool day, a nice breeze, misty clouds, and firm footing from recent rains (no deep dust!). A little below the crater rim we broke through the clouds to enjoy blue sky and views of the summits of Mounts Rainier, Adams, and Hood. The interior of the crater was filled with broken clouds, but we were afforded occasional glimpses of the resurgent dome (and 3 or 4 geologists doing field work). 5 climbers continued west along the rim to reach the true summit for a quick lunch break while the 6th rested near the rim a little way to the east. Steve Davis, Jane Leng, Marti Gerdes, Allison Knight, Lumin Browning, Lisa Butraw.

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