Summiting St. Helens - Mission Accomplished (Pics & Video Added)

[jackelope]

There's no such thing as being too prepared on a mountain, especially a big mountain in April in the Cascades. At the cost of renting an ice axe and crampons...about $40 for 3 days if I remember correctly, you'd be silly not to take them. It's not like they take up a bunch of space or weight. The crampons will more than likely be strapped onto the outside of your pack not taking up any space anyway. It's 10x better to have and not need than to need and not have. You've got fairly experienced people telling you to take them. They're not making this stuff up for grins. I'd listen.
Just my .02

[Rob]

I'll loan a pair of crampons and an ice axe to you if that helps!  Only have one of each so you'd still need to get a second pair.

the crampons I have will go on any pair of boots with a protruding heel (not molded).   my ice axe is on the long side as I am over 6 foot, but it would work.

[Smossy]

I'll loan a pair of crampons and an ice axe to you if that helps!  Only have one of each so you'd still need to get a second pair.

the crampons I have will go on any pair of boots with a protruding heel (not molded).   my ice axe is on the long side as I am over 6 foot, but it would work.

Thanks for the offer rob, Well get it all figured out as time dwindles down. I might pick up my own set of stuff by then.

[Rob]

Let me know, might be able to find a second pair as well.

You two should really go for Adams this year.  Hike to Lunch Counter and stay the night, then summit the next day.   Mt St Helens is just the gateway drug.

Check out the glacade shoot down pikers to Lunchcounter!  2 hrs up, 15 min down

[Rob]

(and take the crampons off before you go down a glacade run!!)

[Rob]

And sorry if I am a dog with a bone on this.  Just don't want to see anyone get hurt!

[jackelope]

(and take the crampons off before you go down a glacade run!!)

Rob-
The glissade looks deep in your pics. What time of year were you up there in those pics?
I'm going again this year. Hope for mid-July.

[Rob]

We went end of July (7/26).  Chutes were huge and a little intimidating, but not as bad once you got into them.

[jackelope]

Huh...same time of year we went, but a year later. We were there 7/21/12. Maybe a colder year with a bigger snow pack. The snow looks a little skinny too.

[Rob]

That was my only trip there so I don't have anything to compare it to.  here is our summit shot so you can see how much (or little?) snow pack is on the shelter relative to your trip.

[jackelope]

The shelter was not visible when we were there.

[Smossy]

(and take the crampons off before you go down a glacade run!!)

Rob-
The glissade looks deep in your pics. What time of year were you up there in those pics?
I'm going again this year. Hope for mid-July.

Let me know when/if you decide to do this, I may want to tag along if thats ok. Its something I want to do whats the elevation gain and miles up?

[jackelope]

(and take the crampons off before you go down a glacade run!!)

Rob-
The glissade looks deep in your pics. What time of year were you up there in those pics?
I'm going again this year. Hope for mid-July.

Let me know when/if you decide to do this, I may want to tag along if thats ok. Its something I want to do whats the elevation gain and miles up?

It's +/- 7k' in elevation gain and I don't know how many miles. It's mostly all in snow. The trailhead is about 5k, the Lunch Counter, as Rob mentioned is 9500 or so, and the summit is 12,200' ?? I think? I stop at the Lunch Counter and spend the night. I'll let you know. Crampons and ice axe are sort of a must, especially if you want to glissade. A volcano permit is also a must. You probably already know about those.

[Rob]

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-adams-south-climb

12 miles RT, 6700 feet of gain, summit at 12,276 feet (second highest peak in WA)

Lunch Counter is a huge flat spot that you can stay the night on. 

from the parking lot you walk some dirt trails for a couple miles, then do a mile or so on steep snow fields to Lunch Counter.  Then from there you can summit or stay the night.  There are "tent nests" built into rocks for tent sites (see photo).

In the AM you make a run up pikers peak, decend a little and then make the final summit bid. 
(second photo shows the route from pikers to the summit)

Last photo is a view of Adams from Mt St Helens where you can see pikers and the lunch counter.

[jackelope]

Here's a few more.
1st one is from the lunch counter looking towards Mt. Saint Helens. My tent in one of the tent nests. That one stunk bad like stale pee. I suspect they all do.
2nd is the steep snow field on the way up to the Lunch Counter.
3rd is the trail between Piker's Peak in the background. My buddy is standing on the summit when he took my pic on the last part of the ascent to the summit.
4th is us on the summit with Rainier in the background.