Mt Saint Helens via worm flows

10 miles of hiking • 5750' elevation gain •

Wanted to do a MSH trip before all the snow melted. The forecast called for partly cloudy skies with temps in the 80's in the valley so off I went. On a whim, I followed a different worm flow thinking it would bring me onto the same approach but that didn't work out as I ended up on the east side of Swift Glacier. Snow was soft, no freezing temps overnight. Snow shoes were more hindrance than help due to the slick snow but crampons helped some. Word of advice though, there's a reason sunscreen is part of the "10 essentials". The only thing stupider than not carrying it is carrying it and not using it. Rookie mistake. Ouch!