Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MOUNT ST. HELENS SOUTH
The south side of the monument was the least affected by the eruption, and con-
sequently does not offer the dramatic scenes of devastation to be seen on the east
and west sides of the monument. However, this area offers some good hiking and
a couple of very interesting volcanic features. The first of these features you'll
come to is the Ape Cave, a lava tube that was formed 1,900 years ago when lava
poured from the volcano. When the lava finally stopped flowing, it left a 2-mile-
long cave that is the longest continuous lava tube in the Western Hemisphere. At
the Ape's Headquarters, you can join a regular ranger-led exploration of the cave
or rent a lantern for exploring the cave on your own. This center is open daily
from late June to early September.
Of the trails on this side of the monument, the Lava Canyon Trail is the
most fascinating. It follows a canyon that was unearthed by a mudflow that
swept down this side of the mountain after the eruption.
On Wash. 503, the road leading to the south side of the monument, you'll
find, in the town of Ariel, the Lelooska Foundation , 165 Merwin Village
Rd. ( & 360/225-9522; www.lelooska.com). Something of a Native American
cultural center, this combination museum and art gallery features Native Amer-
ican arts and crafts from around the country, though the emphasis is on the
work of Northwest artists. This is one of the finest Native American galleries in
the state. Additionally, one Saturday evening each month in the spring and fall,
there are performances of traditional Northwest Coast Native American masked
dances, which are accompanied by traditional storytelling. The performances are
held in a reproduction of a traditional cedar longhouse. Tickets are $8.50 for
adults and $7 for children 12 and under, and advance reservations are required.
CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN
If you are an experienced hiker in good physical condition, you may want to
consider climbing to the top of Mount St. Helens. However, be aware that it is
an 8- to 10-hour, 10-mile hike and can require an ice ax. Permits are required
year-round, and between April 1 and October 31 there is a fee of $15 per per-
son for these permits. Because this is a very popular climb (summer weekends
book up months in advance), it is advisable to make a reservation. Reservations
are accepted beginning February 1 at the following address: Climbing Coordi-
nator, Mount St. Helens NVM, 42218 NE Yale Bridge Rd., Amboy, WA 98601
( & 360/449-7861; www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm). Be sure to first get a copy of
the permit application by contacting the national monument. If you don't have
a reservation, you can try your luck by stopping by Jack's Restaurant and Store
( & 360/231-4276 ) on Wash. 503, 5 miles west of the town of Cougar. Each
evening at 6pm, this store has a lottery of climbing permits for the next day; be
sure to arrive 15 minutes early to get your name into the lottery. Between
November 1 and March 31, when permits are free and reservations aren't neces-
sary, you can expect lots of snow. The trail head is on the south side of the mon-
ument. A $5 Northwest Forest Pass (which can also be obtained at Jack's) is
required for parking at the trail head.
A FEW UNIQUE WAYS TO SEE THE NATIONAL MONUMENT
If you'd like a bird's-eye view of the volcano, you can take a helicopter flight
from the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center ( & 360/274-7750 ), for $99 per per-
son. These rides are offered from mid-May through September and last about
25 minutes. Alternatively, you can go up in a small plane with C&C Aviation
( & 503/760-6969; www.ccavn.com), which flies out of the Evergreen Airport
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