Climbing Mt Saint Helens is a challenge for even the in shape hiker, but here are a few tips to help you minimize your risk. Before we get started, I should mention that the US Forest Service only allows 100 people on the mountain per day. To reserve a spot, you will have to register at least a month ahead of time.

Now onto the tips:

1. Get started early. Man hikers start at 4 or 5 in the morning. As the climb can take 12 hours for some, this ensures that you will still have light for your descent.

2. Bring adequate water supplies. There are two ways to do this. You can bring several bottles or a large Camelback bladder, but this can be quite heavy. Instead, I recommend iodine tablets or sweet water drops. These protect you from pathogens in the water and allow you to fill up as you pass streams. Be careful as you do this as the water is cold and can be dangerous. When filling up your bottle or bladder try to collect the water from a moving location, not a still water pool. If possible, collect from a small waterfall, being careful to keep the lip of your bottle away from the ground.

3. Over pack food. You will burn a lot of calories on this hike and its always a good idea to bring more food than you think you will need. Trail mixes are good, although I prefer ones that have more carbs than proteins as that is what your body will need most. Energy bars, such as Cliff or Luna, are a great idea as the pack in a lot of calories for their size. As you will be hiking through mealtimes, a package of lentils and rice or noodles is also a good idea. Don't bring anything you would need to cook as bringing a stove would be cumbersome and take unnecessary work. Many stores sell compact precooked food, which is still quite tasty.

4. Wear a pair of sturdy shoes that you are not that attached to. Boots or shoes with strong arch and heel support are important as the ground can be unstable at points and you will require extra support. If you wear tennis shoes, know that dirt and ash may go through mesh lining, which may be irritating. Hiking boots are a great choice, but you may not want to wear your beloved pair. Hiking on the volcanic rock will cover your boots in ash and possible scrape them up. This should only be a worry if you have technical boots with a high waterproofing that could get damaged.

5. Wear lightweight breathable clothes that can handle a broad range of movement. On the hike you will have to climb up boulders, do some rock hopping, and walk on unstable footing. Your clothes should be able to accommodate all of these conditions. Wearing tight pants will be bothersome and take extra effort.

6. Use sunblock. A lot of the hike is above tree line and offers no shade. You will want to wear a high SPF sunblock and reapply it ever couple of hours. I recommend splashing your face with water to get the sweat and ash off before you reapply.

7. Bring a few fun things. If you go during the right season, there will still be snow on the mountain. If you are looking for a challenge try glacading. In this, you sit on the ground and let gravity take you down the mountain. Sitting on a trash bag is a good idea to keep you from getting too cold. Bringing an ice axe, which you can rent from local outdoor stores, will help slow you down and steer your descent.

Hiking Mt. Saint Helens is a fun and exciting trip. I hope these recommendations will help you get the fullest enjoyment out of it.

Learn more about this author, Adelaide Brown.
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