Mayday skiing on Mt. Saint Helens - an incredible backcountry skiing day on a short notice

text: Mark Flaming - photos: Stefan Guemperlein

The first spring volcano ski starts every year with a longing that begins in early March. After months of doing yoyos in sub-alpine terrain the itch to climb volcanoes sets in. It makes matters worse that I can see Hood and Adams from my house. There are mainly two dragons that guard the gates to these cascade peaks in early spring. One is the fear of avalanches and weather, and the other is the long approach on snow covered roads. The fear melts before the snow and this makes for an itchy spring. Unless you do mad long approaches. Unless you have a snowmobile.

I was working away on the last day of April and then suddenly there was this weather window. I stopped work immediately, called Jay and Stefan who I know are generally inclined to do the same, and we were on the road by 8:00 that evening. We arrived at the junction of Road 83 and 90 about 10:00pm to discover a closed road. Sort of closed. The next part of the approach was not technically backcountry and maybe not technically legal either so I am just going to jump ahead. In any case, we left no trace. We did sleep in tents on snow and we did get up early and eat oatmeal just like you're supposed to on a backcountry trip. Then we fired up the sleds (the sled).

There is nothing of interest to report about the sled ride, which is the most you can ever hope for. Jay and I drove the sleds with Stefan in tow. We promise, no backcountry skiers or small animals were injured during the approach. The important thing is that we were at the base of Monitor Ridge at about 3,400 feet at the perfect time on a fine morning. Temperature was below freezing with solid cloud cover and no wind. Climbing weather as good as it gets.

We got up on the base of Monitor Ridge from the west and then pretty much followed the climbing route up to the rim. We broke through the cloud layer about 1500 feet from the summit, said hello to Adams and Hood, and finished the climb in the sun. By the time we reached the rim the clouds were gone. We had just enough time to peek into the crater, refuel on Ibuprofen and beer, and ski down on a layer of sweet spring butter cream. And I'm not going to lie to you, we had a beer stash waiting for us at the sleds.

I have two final things to say about this trip. One is informational. Start your approach at the big switchback in the road about a mile before Climber's Bivouac. This allows you to ski the west side of Monitor Ridge.

My second point is a just a reflection. I am pretty sure that we were the only skiers on St Helens. In a normal year, there would be hoards in the Marble Mountain sno park and an ant line up to the summit. Backcountry skiers are generally good folk, even the telemark crowd, and I like the vibe of a day out with people who are on the mountain because they love it. But being out there alone is better. Most backcountry skiers don't or won't own a sled and most snowmobilers won't use their sleds like this. It's a perfect gap.