Mount St. Helens: Worm Flows (2017)

Women c̶a̶n̶'̶t̶ CAN.

Women s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ SHOULD.

Women are w̶e̶a̶k̶ STRONG, RESILIENT, CAPABLE, RESOLUTE, DETERMINED, ENDURING, and we are FORMIDABLE.  

This is why my heart beats for hiking. It teaches us that though peaks may rise up before us, we remain undeterred. For we can climb mountains. It is not that they must be toppled down, but that we must rise above them. Summit.

The mountains are never too tall, or too large, or too vast, or too sheer, or too daunting, or too much, for our hopes and dreams our courage, our sisterhood and the heart that burns within us - all of these are always much greater. Stronger. Unyielding.

We have been assigned these mountains to show others that they can be moved. 

There's a reason why mountains can be moved. There's a reason why mountains are referred to as a "she." Watch your step. There's a lot of broken glass from the ceilings that we shatter.

11:20pm –  Left Seattle and headed towards Marble Mountain Snow Park.

2:50am – Pulled into the parking lot blaring music, fighting sleep.

3:00am – Rearrange gear and last minute checks. Self-check in, clipped climbing permit to pack.

3:40am – Began the climb up St. Helen’s via the Swift Creek / Worm Flows route. Put on crampons a few minutes in. Switched to snowshoes a short while after that.

5:32am – Caught the fiery rising sun.

5:50am – Made it to the 4800 ft point.

10:30ish am – SUMMIT!