[TR] Mt. St. Helens - South Side / Worm Flows 1/31/2010

[scheissami]

Trip: Mt. St. Helens - South Side / Worm Flows

 

Date: 1/31/2010

 

Trip Report:

My buddy Ross and I headed up to St. Helens yesterday. The forecast was for scattered showers early but persistent clouds, which was exactly what we got.

 

Left the car about 8am, summited about 2pm (yes, we are slow), back at the car by 5pm. There were several large groups climbing yesterday, as well as several groups of ski-tourers. Plenty of ski turns low down, but I think we're the only ones to ski from the summit. Most people bagged it early due to visibility concerns. We figured we'd just keep slogging unless it got really nasty.

 

We were in the clouds until about 5500', then mostly above cloud level with some occasional bursts of bright sunlight.

 

Amazing powder turns off the summit, with good snow all the way down until about 5000' where it turned to glop.

 

No evidence of avy activity. We didn't dig a pit since the forecast was mellow and we stuck to gentle terrain away from lee slopes. There was anywhere from 3-8" powder on top of a very distinct crust, under which there was more unconsolidated fluff.

 

Overall, an amazing day of skiing. I'll post some pics once I get them from Ross.

 

Cheers!

 

Gear Notes:

Flotation of choice.

 

Approach Notes:

Road clear to parking lot at Marble Mount trailhead.

 

Boot it until 2900', then skins the rest of the way.

[scheissami]

Photos:

 

Socked in on the way up

 

Sweet views from high above the clouds (ignore the two ass-clowns in the pic)

 

Sweet turns from the summit

 

Good snow most of the way down

 

Mount Hood in the distance

[eldiente]

We were up there as well, made the summit by 3:00PM as a party of four. Good turns going down, a bit crusty in spots but overall a good day.

[mountainsloth]

that was my first true alpine ski, and pure bliss the whole way down! good work guys!