Splitboarding: 12/30/2012 Mt. Saint Helens

Moving to Utah with Drew for a couple months on January 1st, and needing a day to pack, December 30th was my last day to go touring in Oregon.  A group of splitboard.com forum members had plans to climb Mt. Saint Helens, and invited me to join them.  On 12/30 I met Mike in North Portland at 4 am, and again we were in route to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  By 6 am we were in the parking lot ready to roll.

Mike throwing the skins on.

Skinning through the trees, our objective illuminated in the moonlight. 

Mt. Hood in the morning alpenglow. 

Mt. Saint Helens burning at sunrise. 

The views were rad, and so were the conditions.  We were able to skin to the summit rim.  

Mt. Adams lookin' good. 

Mt. Rainier and Spirit Lake seen from the summit rim. 

Mt. Saint Helen's smoking crater. 

There was a lot of Saint Helen's summit experience in the group.  With blue skies and NO wind, there were unofficial claims of the "best conditions ever".  Not sure they would ever get another chance to do so; Elliot, Mike, and Viet soaked in sun rays on the summit. 

Morgan stoked on a great day.

The group, high on life. 

Lastly, a parting shot from the road. 

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