The next day, we are up nice and early (4:30am) and are ready to go at the trailhead at 6:11am. The day, like all so far before, is clear and calm. So far, so good.
The first part of the trail is actually quite pleasant - nicely graded, and, higher up, with nice lookouts. We get our first good look at the surrounding terrain - which consists of thickly wooded peaks and snowy volcanoes poking out here and there in the distance. We can no less than 4 of the Cascade volcanos from our vantage point - Mount Saint Helens itself, Mount Adams, Mount Hood and Mount Jeffereson.
Soon we start to pass fairly large lava flows and the treeline is reached. From here on, the trail ends and the route is lightly marked as it makes its way up over lava flows and dusty pumice slopes. Here and there there are still snowfields, which we make use of on the way up and down.
The other 97 or so people are also on the mountain, and we never feel lonely. The hike is long and steep, but we make good time, and we slog to the crater rim at about 10:30am (total distance from the trailhead to the crater rim is about 7.5 kilometres, with an elevation gain of 4700 feet). The view from the rim is truly breathtaking - as you crest, you are presented with a panoroma of the huge crater and devastated area with gleaming Mount Rainier to the north. Truly impressive.
The route meets the crater rim not at the true summit. From the rim, a tricky, slipperly scramble along the rim brings you to the true summit at 8360+ feet. Fortunately for us, the vast majority of hikers opt out of this final bit, and so except for one lone meditative summiter, we have the true summit to ourselves. Markus, myself and Peter send out brief e-mails, being the geeks that we are.
After a short lunch break, we scramble back down to the car. The day is still early, and as a final capper to our Mt St Helens experience, we drive around to the northeast and explore the devastated area.
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