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October 01, 2006
Mount St. Helens
Volcano almost killed us. Five miles, 4,500 foot elevation gain. I've done worse. But the first 2 miles have about a 500 foot elevation gain. Then you're left climbing 4,000 feet in 3 miles, all above the tree line. Two miles: boulders. Huge boulders. Two miles of bent-over boulder scrambles. The last mile: a 45 degree slope, sand-like ash, two steps forward, one step sliding back. The rim at the top was awesome. It took about two minutes to slide back down ash that took an hour to climb. But scrambling downhill over boulders? Even harder than scrambling up.
The stats:
* Four hours up.
* Four hours down.
* 10 miles traversed.
* 1 steaming crater.
* 2 beers at the peak.
* 6 power bars.
* 2 peanut butter jelly sandwiches.
* Sore muscles: all of them.
Posted by Courtney_Sherwood at October 1, 2006 06:24 PM
Comments
Pictures? Did you get a chance to take any pictures? Or was it one of those things that's impossible to capture through a camera lens?
Posted by: Mom at October 1, 2006 09:51 PM
We did get pictures. I'll post them soon -- maybe after work today. I haven't had a chance to upload them yet.
Posted by: Courtney at October 2, 2006 06:36 AM
Congratulations. Your step-father breathes a sigh of relief. I am proud of you two. I have never climbed such a difficult mountain.
Posted by: Sue at October 2, 2006 04:26 PM
Congrats! Glad you made it up and back!
Posted by: Anonymous at October 3, 2006 07:12 AM
Congratulations. That's definitely on my to-climb list.
Posted by: Sara at October 5, 2006 05:01 PM