Splitboarding Mt Saint Helens - Solo Summit
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Since exploding in 1980 and being declared a national monument in 1982, Mount Saint Helens has become one of the most well known of the major Cascade peaks. In this video I take advantage of a spring storm clearing up and get a nice splitboarding session in the last day before permit season begins. The Climber's Bivouac was still not accessible due to remaining snow, so I accessed the mountain from Marble Mountain Sno-Park. From there, the route to summit the mountain is about 12 miles round trip with over 5,600 ft of elevation gain.
For more mountain submitting videos, please check out my Summit Specials playlist by following the link below:
• Summit Specials
I used a picture of the mountain and trail map from the following links:
environment.uw.edu/wp-content...
wanderlusthiker.com/mount-sain...
Video Contents:
00:00 - Intro, Marble Mountain Sno-Park
00:25 - Worm Flows Approach
02:57 - Converting Splitboard
05:12 - Ascending Snow Fields
06:28 - Crater Rim to Summit
08:56 - Snowboarding Down
14:20 - Navigating to Intercept Trail System
16:01 - Chocolate Falls
16:48 - Ski Trails to Parking Lot
19:23 - Sign Off
This man represents what every great resort snowboarder or skier would have to do to get down
Phenomenal. Crusty AF but so worth it.
I think if you are going to climb the mountain anyway, splitting makes the overall effort easier, even if you have to carry the board most of the way and the riding conditions are shit. Usually knocks a couple hours or so off the round trip compared to booting the whole thing.
Bro I’ve watched alotta these videos and yours gave me the most realistic expectation of what it’s like, very good job on this all around
Appreciate the comment! Conditions are rarely ideal, but it's still worth doing!
Amazing!
I love your content man thank you for inspiring us
I love this comment lol. Thanks so much!
Wow you’re wild
Great video! A really cool tour!
Thanks!! 🤙
Fantastic video mate!
Much thanks!!
“Used splitboard for sale..may have small lava rock embedded in base”
Great Adventure. I am looking at coming up there to do Helens in November from Boise. Do they keep the road plowed through the winter?
Yes. They plow to Marble Mountain Sno-Park, but not to the Climbers Bivouac. Safe travels ✌
Bravo Amico mio...good trip..
I want to ask you how you feel with the phone case in your shoulder?It s a problem when you move your arms with poles?
Grazie! I like the shoulder pouch for phone accessibility while hiking (that backpack only has one hip pouch). It is not in the way of using trekking poles or moving arms around. Note that REI pouch has a weak magnetic button that makes it easy to open with one hand, but I don't quite trust that my phone won't fall out if I take a tumble while snowboarding. Overall I like it.
how much actual skinning would you say your ascent was? I made it most of the way up last early may, and really was cursing myself for having a spliboard on my back for 97% of the ascent. I swore I'd only bring a traditional (lighter) board and crampons this year. but type-2 thinking has my wanting to get up there asap on a split, and hoping i'll be on skis more this time.
I probably used them 20% of the way or less. Last time I was out there I needed the split since it was over knee deep, but this time I was able to stay on top of the snow most of the way. I ran into more skiers on the way down who had skinned the entire distance up above 6,000 ft. If I had ski crampons I could probably have kept them on the whole way, but this time I wasn't cursing bc I wasn't sinking in. If I knew the conditions would be exactly the same, I'd agree with you a normal board would be just as easy. I just never quite know what I'm getting into until I'm out there. Your skinning success may also depend on what time you climb. Hope that helps lol. Cheers!
Man such a great trip! How do you like the Arctix bib? You dont find wearing an insulated bib for the ascent too hot?
It was cold enough with the overcast, but legs do tend to run hot on a nice day. I can unzip the front all the way and they are quite comfortable, so it just seems like an OK tradeoff. It's usually getting too hot for the bib about the time of year I ditch the split board and do more booting in lighter clothes.
Awesome vid man! What's the pack you use?
Thank you! This one is an Osprey Soelden 32
@@summitspecials Oh rad! I wasn't sure if the side straps on that pack had enough room to A-frame the skis in split mode. Looks like the fit pretty well. Sweet vids, man!
a question: what kind of of skins are u using? whats your opinion on synth/mix/mohair skins?
I've had the same synthetic voile skins for years and my biggest complaint is the silicone glue. Messy. People I've talked to suggest a mohair nylon mix and a non-silicone based glue. I plan on buying the Voile Hyper Glide made w/ Pomoca and just haven't got around to it yet. My read on mohair is just that it glides better, not sure it grips as well as synthetics. The Hyper Glides are a 70-30 mix that seems popular.
@@summitspecials i have a K2 mixed ones and have been considering buying synthetic. I've heard synthetics are grippier on the uphill. I have a lot of trouble of steeper hills, def more than skiers.
What kínd of S.B. You using??
OZSym. It is a bit unusual with an asymmetrical design. About 5 years ago I was in touch with the board designer, Mike Meru from Salt Lake, and it was the best package deal I could put together for splitboarding.
Great video but the no helmet makes me nervous!
I sure appreciate the sentiment :). Safety first!
Don’t be a coward. No helmet ok.
should be wearing a helmet
Please kids dont try this at home. Never enter the back country alone and without proper avalanche awareness.