Northwest Magazines

A little-known tradition brings Mount St. Helens alive with color and “swish.”

DID YOU REMEMBER your dress?” My friend John’s question puzzled me, as it was early in the morning, and we were packing our gear in the Subaru to prepare for an ascent of Mount St. Helens. A dress did not appear anywhere on my packing list. With a sly smile, John pulled out a lacy white mother-of-the-bride dress and a shocking hot pink muumuu from his backpack. “I look better in white,” he said as he tossed me the pink frock.

Mother’s Day weekend is the last weekend of the climbing season without a quota system in place. In other words, it is the last chance of the year to climb Mount St. Helens before worrying about the 100-person per day limit normally enforced by the U.S. Forest Service. Thus, the weekend generally turns into somewhat of a free-for-all, with a festive atmosphere and a dress-wearing tradition that has been affectionately enforced for the past 25 years.

I WAS FORTUANTE to climb Mount St. Helens on Mother’s Day in 2004, just months before the eruption in early October that closed the mountain to climbers until July 21, 2006. It is one of the most popular climbs in the country, with about 12,000 climbers attempting to reach the 8365-foot summit each year. This is largely due to the fact that it is not a highly technical climb. The ascent of Mount St. Helens is basically a strenuous hike up very steep terrain during the summer months; or in the earlier months, it is a long trudge up an icy and snow-packed staircase.

Before any actual climbing commences, there are several logistical steps required to ensure a safe trip. Climbing permits cost $15 with a $7 service

Northwest Travel Magazine May/June 2007

charge, and are required year-round
to climb the mountain. They must be purchased online through the Mount
St. Helen’s Institute Web site and can
be picked up on the way to the mountain on Route 503 at Jack’s Restaurant & Store. The permit must be clearly displayed when on the mountain. Finally, all climbers must sign the registry at Jack’s, the purpose of which is to ultimately assist in the event of an emergency rescue situation.

IT WAS OUR FIRST ATTEMPT at the peak, and we figured it would take the estimated 8 to 12 hours to reach the top and return to base camp. Since it was May, and there was still a good amount of snow on the mountain, we

decided to hike up with snowboards strapped to our backpacks in anticipation of a speedy descent. Other climbers, sporting brightly colored dresses over their polar fleece and Gore-Tex, were similarly preparing. After a bit of a late start, we began the long hike. Since mountains are notoriously unpredictable, we reached some snowy weather near the top. The white-out conditions made it nearly impossible to proceed, and we begrudgingly headed back before reaching the top of the crater rim. However, our disappointment at not reaching the summit was quickly abated by the thrilling descent and the sight of rugged mountaineers unabashedly donning dresses.