New St. Helens Winter Permit Process 11/1/08

Remember that guy who fell into the crater a while ago?  Getting a permit should put a fix to that, I guess...

[size=10pt]Climbers will need permits, caution at Mount St. Helens[/size]

The News Tribune Published: October 30th, 2008 12:30 AM

"As of Saturday, people attempting to climb Mount St. Helens must self-register to obtain a climbing permit. The free permits will be available at the Climber’s Register at the Lone Fir Resort in Cougar, Cowlitz County. ..."

More: www.thenewstribune.com/soundlife/story/523116.html

Okay, this MSH deal has ticked me off for a long time, so a rant

As most skiers would agree, the way this mountain is managed is not the way we'd like to see mountain mgmt going. When I climb mountains like helens I certainly don't climb them once in a weekend and I won't even go into the challenges of a day trip. Not to mention, most skiers don't plan weeks ahead of time. For me, I'm lucky if I got a plan by friday night. If its crap I'd rather stay home.

Plus I don't remember the fee being charged between april and may???

And considering what other sports on forest service lands pay, are any as high as climbers? Compared to damage that ATV's, four wheel driving, snowmobiling, hunters and horseback riding cause, this is an unfair fee in my opinion. They pay little to nothing and probably have more rescues and costs than climbers do and yet climbers/skiers make sexy news and the publics perceived risk of what we do is higher as a result. My knee jerk reaction to the new registrations is that they just want to see how much the area is used that time of year. I fear others would use that info to charge more fees. I'm not a fan of non-governmental groups running our lands, as corporations and businesses are here to make money.

hey Jason:
looks like they pushed the fee schedule back because of all the interest in BC skiers & riders to me. was not that long ago that one volcanoe pass was good for both adams and st. helens

last time i did any research lost hikers/ backpackers cost more in S & R than climbers/ skiers
cheers
rob

It does seem like there must be a better way to manage the Mt. St. Helens climbing permits.  I put in for a permit last spring the requisite several weeks ahead.  When the day came to climb, conditions were unsafe (if I remember right, it was in early June, with hot weather following a late season snow).  I would have changed the date if I could - we ended up going because I had the permit - there was evident slide activity on the way up, and we didn't summit.  I was informed that there is absolutely no refund policy or ability to change dates for these types of situations. 

After the snowmobiler incident, I also sent a question in via the climbing page regarding snowmobilers and whether they need to obtain climbing permits like skiers and snowshoers do if they go to the top of the mountain.  I never received a response...

That's pretty lame they won't offer to swap dates if the avy conditions are high.  Seems like it might encourage people to head out in dangerous conditions, making accidents more probable, thereby increasing the number of search and rescues (and/or body recoveries).

The Forest service took on this MT ST Helens Institute about two years ago.
Their joint plan has a total disregard for the traditional Spring climbing/skiing season.

1) The plan takes away the spontanaity of good weather and safe avy conditions required for the spring skiing season.

2) In any other limited or quota system a certain number of permits are put aside for daily use along with permits not picked up by a certain time.

3)Gee Wonder ,how much money local businesses lose from skiers because of this?
I don't know about you but we always ate in Woodland the night before ,Spent some at JAck's both ways and usually gassed up down there somewhere.

I personally would like to see the period up until MAy 15 returned to the old system. And item 2) put in to practice after May 15th.

Ive emailed , the MT st helens institute ,Congressmen Adam Smith,and Brian Baird plus the forest service. I recieved answers praising The institute. But so far no satisfaction.  
By accepting the current plan we have lost access or paid a fee and lost it due to weather or Bad avy forcast. Will Mt Adams be next?