Mt. St. Helens, Butte Camp

*Please note; climb cost includes climbing permit; permits must be purchased in advanced and are nonrefundable.

This route is open early season, and is an option for those who want to ski and get away from the crowds. Like the Swift Creek route, it's about 1,000 more vertical feet than Monitor ridge. This is a nice overnight trip - about a 3 1/2 mile pack in to a camp. Overall, St. Helens is one of the lower and technically easier glaciated peaks in the Pacific NW, but still a strenuous climb as the starting elevation is relatively low. This mountain is often underestimated; exposure and route finding challenges in low visibility can make this peak a serious as any in the Northwest. Watch out for the cornices on the summit crater! This is a classic NW ski climb, with long open runs, minimal avy danger, and no crevasses. Permits: Mt. St. Helens is one of the most heavily regulated peaks in the US. See the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website for current permit regulations. SnoPark permit required (OR permits are okay) between Nov 15 and April 30. Climbing permits are required year round.