Mount St. Helens 30 years later

Here's a great feature from KGW Portland on what Mount St. Helens is like 30 years after the May 18, 1980 eruption.



(This is from Just Northwest)

Original Mount St. Helens eruption coverage KGW

30 years ago today Mount St. Helens erupted. It was a massive national disaster. Here is the original news coverage the day of the eruption from KGW out of Portland. (It's funny to see how far the news has come in 30 years)



(This is from Just Northwest)

Climber's body found on St. Helens

The body of climber Joseph Bohling has been recovered from Mount St. Helens.

Apparently Bohling fell into the crater of St. Helens while posing for a photo near the edge. The snow he was standing on gave way and he plummeted 1,500 feet into the crater.

Rescue teams were immediately called into the area but high winds and increasingly bad weather conditions forced them to delay the search until today.

According to the news site, his body was found on a ledge of the south crater, nearly covered in snow.

This is a tragedy on many levels. I feel for the climber's family and my heart goes out to the them.

This is another warning that cornices (snow overhangs) are not stable and at no time should be approached. All over the Mount St. Helens climbing site there are warning after warning about not approaching the crater of the mountain.

Cornices are unstable and prone to sudden failure. Extreme caution is advised! Do not approach the crater rim unless you can find a wind-scoured area where the surface of the rim is visible. The crater rim is unstable and is subject to frequent rockfall and collapse. Stay back from the crater edge, it is potentially hazardous at any time of year (especially during the period of elevated avalanche danger and rockfall during the spring thaw).

Especially during avalanche and spring thaw.

While it may only be mid-February right now, the weather outside is like mid-spring. It was almost 60 today just outside of Seattle. Not your typical winter weather.

That means the snow is becoming less stable and the spring melt isn't far away.

It is truly sad that the search ended the way it did.

(This is from Just Northwest)

Mount St. Helens permits for July

On Sunday I wrote about how the Mount St. Helens climbing permits went on sale on Monday, February 1.

Well thanks to a super busy summer (backpacking trips, several weddings to attend, etc.) I only had two weekends that would work for the trip.

July 3 and July 10.

Our first choice was July 10 but that day was sold out. I wonder why that day was the fastest to go? Maybe there is something I don't know.

Anyway, we got our climbing permits for July 3.

And yes, there will be a Northern Rangers video for the trip.

(This is from Just Northwest)

Mount St. Helens climbing permits

Just a heads up for any of you out there thinking about climbing Mount St. Helens this summer.

The climbing permits go on sale tomorrow, Monday, February 1, at 9 AM through the Mount St. Helens Institute website.

Here's what the site says about permits:

Mount St. Helens offers an exciting and challenging climb. While it is not a technical climb and does not usually require special equipment or previous mountain climbing experience, it is a strenuous experience. Be prepared for snow, ice and changing weather conditions.

Permits are required year round. From November 1 through March 31, you can obtain permits at no charge from the Lone Fir Resort in Cougar, WA. From April 1 through October 31, you need to purchase a permit in advance from this site. From April 1 through May 15, there is no limit on the number of permits available. After May 15, permits are limited to 100 per day.

(This is from Just Northwest)

Outdoor Photo of the Week: St. Helens winter

We took a drive up to Mt. St. Helens. This photo was taken just before coldwater lake. The mountain looks so peaceful...for now. Photo by Heather Roslie/ Winlock, WA.

Click on the photo to make it larger.

Think you've got a great outdoor photo? Want to see it hosted on Just South of North? Send your submissions to justsouthofnorth@gmail.com.

Please include your name, a short caption about the photo (date, location, and what makes it special) and your location.

Check back each Sunday for a new Outdoor Photo of the Week.

Northern Rangers: The Ape Caves

This week the Northern Rangers headed down to Mount St. Helens to hike, camp and explore.

One of the attractions of the active volcano is the Ape Caves.

Facts about the Ape Caves

• This cave is the longest continuous lava tube in the continental United States.
  
• There are two different routes to explore. The upper cave and the lower cave.
• The lower cave is an easy hike and about 3/4 of a mile long.
• The upper cave is about 1 1/2 miles long.
• The upper cave also includes obstacles and is much more difficult.
  

Driving Directions

• From Interstate 5 take Exit 21, the Woodland Exit
• Travel east on Highway 503 and USFS Road 90 for about 36 miles
  
• Turn left onto USFS Road 83 and proceed another 2 miles to the junction of USFS Roads 83 and 8303.
• Turn left onto USFS Road 8303 and proceed about 1 mile to the parking lot of lower entrance to Ape Caves

One thing we did notice about the caves was the amount of garbage in them. Please, if you do the hike, don't litter. If you pack it in, pack it out. It's that simple.

Change of plans

After three days of hiking, the Northern Rangers have decided to postpone their Wonderland Trail adventure till next year. The reason: weather.

We hiked for three days in fog, mist and rain with ZERO views of Mount Rainier.

The reason we were hiking the Wonderland Trail was to enjoy the epic views of Mount Rainier. So, after two days of fog, and talking to several rangers about how it was supposed to be fog and rain the rest of the week, we decided it was time for a change of adventure.

We figured that we could complete the entire trail, but then we wouldn't have enjoyed any of the views that make what it is. So instead, we decided to push it till next summer where we hopefully will have better weather.

Our thoughts were that we could do the trail to say we did it. But then anytime anybody said, "I just did the Wonderland Trail. Didn't it have the best views?" And we'd have to answer, "All we saw was fog and rain." That we needed a new plan.

So now, we're off on a new adventure starting tomorrow for the rest of the week. We'll be heading down to Mount St. Helens. And you better believe we'll have some new Northern Rangers video of our adventures there.

I'll post the videos from our first three days later next week.

Oh, and our training worked out great. We had some pretty tough climbs on sections of the trail, but we did great and our legs were fine at the end of the day. So that was a plus.

Alright, we're off. Northern Rangers away!

Plans change. Roll with it.

If you've been following the blog, you know that this weekend Jeff and I are going to be climbing Mount St. Helens. Well, nature wins sometimes.

Our plans for climbing the mountain have been put on hold. There is too much snow up at the trailhead and the route that we'd have to take is different than our original plans.

I spoke with a ranger today, and she said that they highly recommended snowshoes with spikes, skies, and/or crampons. Oh, and that every member of the party have an ice axe.

The snow also adds extra dangers. As in snow cornices along the edge of the rim. (Pictured above) These snow cornices make the edge look further away than it really is. You walk near one of these, and you're heading to the bottom.

In other words, more that what we were thinking about to begin with.

So now, we're not sure what we'll do for the weekend. I'll keep you posted once we make our plans. Perhaps a mountain bike trip. That would be fun.

Memorial Day weekend in Washington

This weekend is Memorial Day. That means an extra day of freedom. What are you're plans?

Well, if you're a last minute decider, I ran the numbers, Googled the results, and added my own bias into the mix and in no paticular order, here are the JustSON Top 10 Washington state destinations for the extended weekend.

1. Paradise, WA - Nothing beats Mount Rainier in my opinion. And for a long time I wanted to be a park ranger. Still might try it if this writing thing never pans out. I haven't been up to Paradise since they opened the new vistor's center. If you live in the area, and have never been up to the mountain, you're missing out on a lot.

2. Cougar, WA - Explore Mount St. Helens. There are a ton of great stuff around the area to discover, from the visitor center to the ape caves to the lava canyon.

3. Anacortes, WA - Ferry to the San Juan Islands and you won't be disappointed. This is a great trip with plenty to see. Some of the highlights include: ferry ride, scenic views, great dining, whale watching, histroic landmarks, Mount Constitution, and sea life.

4. Mazama, WA - Take a drive in the North Cascades. This 132 mile drive throught the Cascades Mountains allows breath taking views of high mountain peaks, deep valleys, waterfalls, rivers and dams. Also, get out and go for a hike in the area.

5. Seattle, WA - If you're more a one-day event person, why not hit up the city? Go to the zoo, the shops, Pikes Place Market, enjoy lunch on the waterfront, catch a Mariners game or a trip up the Space Needle.

6. Snoqualmie, WA - The Snoqualmie Falls provides a great backdrop for pictures and you could eat lunch at the lodge. Or, if you're rich, stay there. There are tons of hiking trails around the area and lots of campgrounds. Take a trip up Mount Si in nearby North Bend, or if shopping is more your thing, then check out the North Bend Outlet Mall. Also, if you like to hit the slots, you can head over to the new Snoqualmie Casino.

7. Port Angeles, WA - The Olympic National Park offers a huge range of items. This area can be explored by bike, car, foot, trail, path, kayak, canoe or even motor boat. There is so much to do here.

8. Lake Chelan, WA - The home Web site of the lake promotes 101 things to do while visiting. On this list is wineries, boating, golfing, river rafting, music, fishing, need I go on. This is one awesome place to visit.

9. Long Beach, WA - Beach. Right there. All you need to know.

10. Leavenworth, WA - Tucked in the mountains is a great little town called Levenworth. Thjs town is rich in history and caters to tourists.

Honorable mention - Brandon's house, Spokane, WA - Joking aside, Spokane is a great place to go for a weekend. The mountains are close by, golfing is all around, Spokies provide excellent entertainment and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is just down the road.

Close call - Pullman, WA. Hanging out with Ryan Leaf. Wait, this is the BEST places to visit for the long weekend. Scratch that. I vote we just give the Pullman area to Idaho.

The Kid Who Climbed Everest

Those readers who follow Just South of North on a regular basis will have noticed by now that we here at the blog think that Bear Grylls is pretty much the coolest dude ever.

Some people have even labeled us as having a "man crush" on him. No, that doesn't mean we are in love with Bear, that means we admire him.

According to Urban Dictionary, the definition of a man crush is: When a straight man has a "crush" on another man, not sexual but kind of idolizing him

Yes, it does appear that JustSoN has a man crush on Bear.

But why? Well, the answer to that question is simple. The man is a badass.

I recently bought one of his books through Amazon.com (It just arrived today, so that's what made me think of this post) and I am very excited to start reading it.

The book is "The Kid Who Climbed Everest: The Incredible Story of a 23-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest."

Here's the synopsis: "Everest," writes British climber Bear Grylls, "is no place to prove yourself. The likelihood of reaching the summit is so slim that you're inevitably setting yourself up to be disappointed."

But, Grylls continues, mountains are most definitely an arena where alpinists express their deepest drives, and he had more ambition than most. Badly injured in a parachuting accident in 1996, he resigned his army commission and cast about for a new career--a decision he succeeded in putting off by enlisting in a climbing expedition to the world's tallest mountain. Now, Grylls points out, the odds of a well-conditioned climber's making the summit of Everest are something like one in a hundred; for climbers under the age of 30, who lack the experience and conditioning that age brings, those odds slim down to 1 in 1,000. Twenty-three at the time, Grylls took his chances nonetheless, despite the "sinking feeling that I had just made a commitment that was going to drag me a little too far out of my comfort zone."

The book sounds awesome. And once I'm done with it, you better believe I'll write my personal review on JustSoN. Also, I'm going to order one of his survival books. Because I figure what better way to learn all the traits of survival, then from the guy who constantly beats the wild in Man Vs. Wild.

And I got some Bear Grylls pants recently for camping in. They are a special brand from a UK company, Craghoppers. I'll get the chance to use them for the first time next week when Jeff and I continue our training for Mount St. Helens and the Wonderland Trail. After that I'll let you know how they work.

My date with a mountain

The day is set.

On Monday the climbing permits for Mount St. Helens went on sale. I had heard that these are the outdoors equivalent to scorching hot concert tickets, when they went on sale I bought mine.

I thought about camping out, in a sleeping bag, in front of the ranger station. But then I realized they were only sold on the Internet. So I just waited in my house. I know, lame, but warm.

Once the ticket sales window opened, I got my day. That day is June 6. Actually, Jeff Hudspeth from the Just South of North Bullpen will be joining me on this adventure. So we will be keeping track of our training and updating the readers on if we'll make it to the top or not.

(also, the dates aren't set in stone, but we'll be doing the entire 93 miles of the Wonderland Trail in mid-summer. that's the one that goes all the way around Mount Rainier. Yeah, it will be epic. And we'll keep you updated on that too)

But back to Mount St. Helens.

Here is the route we will be taking. The Monitor Ridge Route from Climbers Bivouac.

This route gains 4,500 feet in five miles to the crater rim at 8,365 feet elevation. Although strenuous, this non-technical climb is suitable for people in good physical condition who are comfortable scrambling on steep, rugged terrain. Most climbers complete the round trip in seven to twelve hours.

We are shooting for closer to the seven. And with the right training we will get there. Wait, what am I doing writing a blog? I should be hiking! June will be here before I know it. Oh well, I'll start tomorrow.