St. Helens via Monitor Ridge

[sawtooth500]

Looking to do St. Helens via Monitor Ridge sometime in the next few days - I am flexible as to the exact date. I'm in Seattle, I was going to drive down and sleep at the trailhead, then do a day climb with a very early start.

 

In case I don't find a partner to climb with, I'll probably do it solo. I did Adams and Hood solo last summer, however I've never done a big winter climb solo. Some concerns I have, and if someone could give me some advice, I'd appreciate it:

 

1. Do you know if the trailhead is accessible via passenger car?

 

2. Given that we are likely to have snowfall in the next few days, do enough people climb Monitor Ridge in winter that I can assume to have a good bootpath? Or will I have to do trailfinding?

 

3. What avalanche concerns are there on monitor ridge?

 

4. Any weather advice?

[DRep]

1. The trailhead is a snowpark. Or you can go to the climbers bivy.

 

2. I don't think enough people climb Monitor Ridge in winter to give you a good enough bootpack.

 

3. You have some pretty serious avy concerns in a couple areas.

 

4. Wait until the avy danger drops. We are supposed to get new snow over a persistent hard layer.

 

Stay safe!

[pdepape]

PM Sent

 

[stjames22]

We skinned up it and skied down new years day. Went up from the snow park near Ape Cave. At that time there was a trail that would've been hard to miss. Snow shoes or skis would be a good idea. If you pick a day with good weather I'm sure you'll have plenty of company.

[sawtooth500]

So you would definitely recommend snow shoes over crampons?

[Smoots]

When I went up the Worm Flows route in early January I brought both, but only used the snowshoes. Conditions may be different now. I decided it was worth bringing both to prevent turning around due to unforeseen conditions.