Climbers Bivouac, the primary trailhead to climb Mount St. Helens, recently opened to the public for the 2014 summer climbing season.

Some need-to-knows for those interested in climbing, whatever year and time of the year you go up:

Permits: Since only 100 climbers are allowed per day during the high season between May 16 and Oct. 31, permits sell out fast. (They're free and you pick them up on the way the rest of the year.) The fee from April 1 to Oct. 31, 2014, is $22 and includes a $5 service charge that goes towards the Mountain Stewards Volunteer Program to help maintain and protect the climbing routes. If the date you want to climb has sold out of permits or if you bought one and no longer are able to climb on that date, visit purmit.com to buy or sell permits.

Permits for 2015 will go on sale in February and can be found here:

Camping: Climbers Bivouac, the starting point for most climbs, is near Cougar, Wash., and has several camping areas with fire pits. There are three toilets and no running water.

The route: Starting from the trailhead, climbers will trek uphill about 2 miles through the woods before leaving the treeline. From there, it's steep and rugged for 2,500 vertical feet over several miles of snow, rocks, boulders, pumice, gravel and ash. At times, you may literally be climbing on all fours. If climbing in early summer, mountaineers will have the option to take snow most of the way. (Most or all of it will be melted later in the season.) The final stretch is a steep 1,000-foot climb through pure snow in early summer, or gravel and ash in late summer to the crater rim at 8,365 feet elevation.

Most climbers complete the round trip in seven to twelve hours. Entry into the crater is prohibited.

Cornices: Climbers are advised to use extreme caution and stay off cornices (overhanging snow) at the crater rim. Stay back 10-15 feet from the edge of the snow.

Read about the climb ahead of time at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Glissading: Many climbers glissade (or slide) back down the mountain, most often seated and using an ice axe and their feet to maintain control. In early June, we were able to make it over 3 miles down without walking, saving considerable wear and tear on our knees. Light waterproof pants, or plastic garbage bags worn like diapers, help greatly.

Read about safety precautions officials recommend when glissading any summit.



Location: Mount St. Helens is just over 30 miles west of Mount Adams, in the western part of the Cascade Range and about 50 miles south of Mount Rainier, the highest of Cascade volcanoes. Mount Hood, the nearest major volcanic peak in Oregon, is 60 miles southeast. Before famously erupting in 1980, Mount St. Helens was the fifth-highest peak in Washington.

Dogs: Though we took a blue heeler with previous mountaineering experience on the June 2014 trip with us, we wouldn't do it again and don't recommend it. The miles of ash, pumice and sharp rock can be bad for a dog's pads, and they're susceptible to snowblindness. There is no shade or water. If your dog gets into trouble, there is no rescue system.

Equipment:

Synthetic clothing. Cotton is not recommended since it will not dry out.

Sturdy waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support

Waterproof and wind resistant Jacket

Synthetic clothing and water proof pants for glissading

Map/compass

The USDA Forest Service suggest four liters of water

Ice axe

First aid kit

Extra socks, hat and gloves for rocks and glissading

Knife

Food and snacks that are high in energy

Sunscreen and lip protection

Sunglasses

weather can change quickly so be prepared for bad weather

More info: Email the Mount St. Helens Institute at climb@mshinstitute.org or call at 360-449-7883. Find more information at the USDA Forest Service.

-- Mark Graves