Backpacking the Northwest » Loowit Trail http://www.eyehike.com/blog Go - your adventure awaits! Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:23:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Mt. St. Helens Crater Rim, WA http://www.eyehike.com/blog/2007/06/st-helens-and-mt-hood/ http://www.eyehike.com/blog/2007/06/st-helens-and-mt-hood/#comments Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:17:42 +0000 drew http://www.eyehike.com/wordpress_weblog/?p=67

Originally uploaded by hikingdrew
Switchback Steve took this awesome shot the week after we made a summit in the freezing rain. While we could not even see the dome when I went, he returned to find the weather and the winds were cooperating.

Thanks Steve!
Directions:
From Seattle take I-5 south and exit I-5 to State Route 503 at Woodland, WA. Drive through Cougar, Washington, to Forest Road 90 and then A left turn onto Forest Road 83, Make a left turn on to FR 81 then a right turn onto Forest Road 830 to Climber’s Bivouac.From Portland, OR, take I-205 north to exit 30b to Battle Ground. Move over to the middle or left lane and proceed north on SR503 for about 10 miles to Battle Ground. Continue north on SR503 past Chelatchie Prairie and Amboy. At the junction of Lewis River Road and SR503, turn right and continue on SR503 past Cougar. SR503 turns into Forest Road 90. Make a left turn on to FR 83, then a left turn onto FR 81 then a right turn onto Forest Road 830 to Climber’s Bivouac.
You must have a Northwest Forest permit for parking. You must also have a climbing permit that you reserve ahead of time.Instructions for permits vary by the time of year you plan to climb. November 1 through March 31, a permit is required and there is no permit fee. Climbing use is unrestricted, permits are not sold on-line. Register and pick up your permit at Jacks Restaurant.
April 1 through May 14, a permit is required and the permit fee is charged. Climbing use is unrestricted but advance purchase and on-line registration is required. You must have your emailed confirmation with you when you pick up your permit at Jacks Restaurant.
May 15 through October 31, a permit is required and the permit fee is charged. A maximum of 100 daily permit holders are issues per day. Advance purchase and on-line registration is required. All permit sales and dates are final once sale has been completed. You must have your emailed confirmation with you when you pick up your permit at Jacks Restaurant.
All permit sales and dates are final once the on-lin sale is completed.
Permits are available on-line at Mt. St. Helens Institute,There are outhouses available at the trailhead and two miles up the trail.
Trail:
GPNF Trail 216A with connections to Trail 216 – Loowit TrailTrail Maps:
Topo Map, Forest Service Map
Length and Elevation:
11 Miles Roundtrip, Elevation at trailhead – 2,700 Ft, Elevation at turnaround point – 3,800 Ft, Elevation at the crater summit – 8,200 FeetReview: September 27, 2006
This fall the Forest Service paved the parking lot at Climber’s Bivouac and graded the gravel road to the parking lot. You will find people camping at the parking lot waiting for their turn to climb the next day. You have to bring your own water if you decide to camp here. Don’t forget to have enough water for your climb. You will need at least 3 liters in warm weather and 4 liters in hot weather. Even with this amount, you will want to have a reserve for when you get back to your vehicle.The trailhead is at the Northwest section of the parking lot. The first mile of the trail gently slopes up and is a pleasant walk through the woods. The next 3/4 mile steepens and begins to switchback and reaches the timberline. In about another 1/4 mile is the junction with Trail 216 which circles Mt. Saint Helens. About 1/5 mile further is the point where a climbing permit is required. This trail is patrolled by a ranger daily so you have little chance of not having your climbing permit checked by a Forest Service ranger.
From there the trail becomes a combination of rocks and volcanic ash. To the west of Monitor ridge is a crude trail that follows a gully up the mountain. The trail degrades to a rock scramble after about a mile. Pay attention to the way you came up so you can take the same route back down. After passing the monitors the trail begins to reappear and the rocks get smaller. The last 3/4 mile becomes a gritty slog. Have goggles or glacier glasses to protect your eyes from possible dust. Have a dust mask for your lungs.
On a sunny day there are spectacular views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood. The view into the crater is breathtaking. You are one of the few that have made it to the summit. In all the world, only 100 people per day have this view.
You may want to head west to the true summit. You will find a small cairn and flags at the summit. If you are lucky you will see rocks fall off the new dome being extruded in the crater. Any rockfall creates a dust cloud and some of the clouds reach the crater rim.
A helmet would be a thoughful option. There are a couple places on the climb where a rock could hit you in the head and there is an extremely small chance the volcano could eject rocks while you are on or near the crater rim. Trekking poles are a godsend on the last part of this hike. It is like climbing a giant sand dune.

Switchback Steve

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]]> http://www.eyehike.com/blog/2007/06/st-helens-and-mt-hood/feed/ 0 Circumnavigation of Mount. St. Helens http://www.eyehike.com/blog/2006/12/circumnavigation-of-mount-st-helens/ http://www.eyehike.com/blog/2006/12/circumnavigation-of-mount-st-helens/#comments Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:37:27 +0000 drew http://www.eyehike.com/wordpress_weblog/?p=8

Loowit Trail Mt. St. Helens

Elevation: Trail maintains an elevation of about 3400 to 4800 feet
Days: Visitor Center open. Cold Water open year-round. Trail access is dependent on snow.
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Distance: 27 miles
Contact: Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, 360-274-2100; Climbing Hotline, 360-247-3961
Maps: Green Trails Map #364SThe Loowit Trail weaves in and out of timberline as it skirts Mount St. Helen’s western slope. It crosses large glacial canyons and avalanche chutes. Most interesting are the numerous mudflows and rugged jumble of rock from the 1980 eruption of this live volcano.

In addition to exploring cooled lava flows and old-growth forests, hikers can expect an awesome panorama to the south and east of Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Yale Reservoir and the Lewis River Valley. On crisp, clear days, you can even catch a glimpse of the majestic Mount Rainier.

It rains in the Pacific Northwest. Along with your lunch, pack a lightweight rain jacket. The hike crosses challenging, rough terrain so wear sturdy footwear. The entire trail is 27 miles in length, but you can do small sections at a time. Campsite opportunities and water availability are limited. Portions of this trail system enter the Restricted Area where research permits are required for off-trail travel.

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