Mount St. Helens Crater from the Summit, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Mount St. Helens Crater from the Summit, North View,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington

Mount St. Helens has been described as the most cantankerous volcano in the United States, due to its massive eruption in 1980 and reawakening in late 1994.

This view down into the north part of the crater was made from the mountain's summit in the summer of 1987. We had climbed the mountain two days earlier, but it was so foggy that we couldn't see a thing. What a letdown.

To make it worse, the next day was clear and sunny; gorgeous. We didn't have a permit to climb that day, so we did the tourist thing, exploring the main part of the monument via the National Forest roads that approach the volcano from the north.

The mountain hulked in the distance, in the deep blue skies, seemingly taunting us. We seethed. We couldn't stand it anymore, so we decided to try to get a permit to climb it again the following day.

At that time, the rules were such that you could get a climbing permit the day of the climb -- because a few extra permits were held in reserve -- but to be considered for one, you had to be at the permit booth first thing in the morning. I mean early.

Camping out on the lawn near the permit booth was allowed, so come nightfall we unrolled our sleeping bags and went to sleep, in order to be one of the first in line in the morning. A lot of other climbers did the same.

In the pre-dawn darkness, the Forest Service Ranger drove in to the booth, signalling that it was time to get up and get in line. We did so, bleary eyed, and we were successful. Permits in hand, we went to a nearby restaraunt for a big breakfast. Pre-climb body fuel.

A new day, favorable weather, a memorable climb. It doesn't get much better than this.