3rd Annual OSAT GCC CONDITIONER CLIMB

Mount St. Helens

Saturday April 28, 2024

The 3rd annual Loowit GCC Conditioner - and the 33rd anniversary of the 1st GCC St. Helens Conditioning event. A classic climb of the smallest volcano in Washington, but probably the most famous!! The Mt. St. Helens Worm Flows route is a 12 mile round trip non-technical climb with an elevation gain of 5700' to the summit crater.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

Students MUST have SUCCESSFULLY completed their Ice Axe Field Trip and completed their Si Time trial.  NO EXCEPTIONS –

This will be an all day event, so do not make plans to be back home until late on Sunday night.
It takes around 3 1/2 hours from Seattle to get to Cougar and the trailhead is just beyond that. In the past, some folks have stayed at the Lone Fir Resort.

**We will have some discussion  about Carpooling and Lodging and start time once registrations are up.**

We'll plan to meet at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park trailhead at 5:30 am and circle up at 5:45 to be hiking by 6am. Expect rain and if it's nice we'll consider ourselves lucky. Expect and be prepared for snow at higher elevations. Near the "summit" it's almost a guarantee. At times it can be very icy. We will find out exactly what we need once the weather tells us what she's planning to do! Be prepared with enough food and water for 12 hours car-to-car.

WHAT TO BRING:

-10 essentials
-Glacier glasses
-Ice Axe
-Helmet
-Crampons (Mountaineering boots)
-Microspikes
-Trekking Poles
-Rain Gear including Pack Cover
-Blue bags (above the treeline you will need to pack out your body waste)
-Food and Water for a 12-hour day
-Snowshoes (possibly but we will know as we get closer)

Packing Light will make this climb more enjoyable!! Also a great opportunity to practice and test out your gear and packing systems!

Permits have already been reserved and you will need to reimburse Michael $20.50 for your permit. 

Here are a couple links to check the weather a few days before the climb:http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Saint-Helens/forecasts/2549

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.1881498281879&lon=-122.19446897506714#.UlCT1NJ9B8E

Some other useful websites:

https://www.mshinstitute.org/explore/climbing-permits/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recreation/recarea/?recid=81369

http://www.lonefirresort.com/ 

Call with any questions! We will be in communication as we get closer to the climb!

Leader: Michael Jannenga

Co-Lead: Anne Washington

Co-Lead: Adrienne Scarcella

Co-Lead/WFR: Kate Alison 

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Cougar, drive east on Lewis River Road which becomes Forest Road 90, turn left on Forest Road 83 and continue 6 miles to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park.

Trailhead Directions:  From Cougar, drive east on Lewis River Road which becomes Forest Road 90, turn left on Forest Road 83 and continue 6 miles to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park.

Call with any questions! We will be in touch before the climb.

Trip Leaders:

*(L)ead;(CL)Co-lead; (W)FA; (S)weep