It is traditional on Mother's Day to climb Mt. St. Helens in a dress. Since the USFS imposes a 100 person limit on the number of climbers that can ascend above 4,800' after May 15th, Mother's Day is generally the last day that unlimited numbers of peoople can climb. The mountain comes alive with many groups taking advantage of the improving weather and less hassle. Over the last deacade, AT gear and splitboards have gradually displaced the glissade brigades.

In 2012,Mother's Day was going to be the first scorcher weekend of the year. The NWAC (anemically funded and virtually shut down for the mountaineering season)posted a rare warning for the Cascades. A day as stunning as May 13, 2012 would normally draw over 500 people to the mountain. The USFS was concerned and offered a partial refund for people who were going to heed the warnings to stay out of the backcountry.

Tradition can not be denied, and many of us simply shifted our plans to an earlier start and caution. I pulled into the parking lot at 4:45 AM thinking I would need to be careful and quiet as many parties would still be in the Land of Nod. I was amazed to see it already buzzing with a hundred headlamps, twinkling like giant fireflies, flitting about the parking lot. The preparations included rummaging through boxes of dresses, tiarras, boas, and assorted non-traditional gear.

By 5:30 AM, I was moving up the trail, well behind a large group of Seattleites. As I broke into the open, I encountered this scene:


The traverse over the top of the falls was in stellar shape, and the ramp up to the plains was wide and well worn like a city sidewalk. Here I encountered some real ladies in more formal attire:


I was joined by some of my fine feathered friends:


Upwards I travelled, passing some snow honoring the Holy Day.


I met the clear winner of the best hat competition. If you don't agree, let me see your entrant:


As I passed the seismometer, I found this man, clearly not fully embracing the spirit of the Day, but honoring his Mother Land:


At the base of the headwall, one congo line proceeded upwards, while another skied passed, lace fluttering in the wind:


This number caught my eye. I was trying to remember just where I encountered this beauty before. Yes, we were both at the Washington Mountain Association accreditation exam the weekend before. He is a shimmering Olympic Beauty, visible for at least 1/2 mile in this silver sequence getu:


I got too caught up in taking everyone's pictures with their own cameras and did not get my own summit shot this year - not that I would post the classic summit shot of myself anyway. However the return trip did provide continued amusement. The "candy-kiss" converted prom gown was quite fetching and practical:


In the parking lot, it was about 85 degrees. Instead of folks jamming gear in the car and racing home, a festival broke out. I rare congruence of sequence was spotted:


The kilted ones were hitting on this beauty in this darling sporting nearly bare shoulders and spaghetti straps:


People chilled, cooking and swinging:


It was another special Mother's Day on Mt. St. Helens. See you next year, and I am inpsired to up my game and invest in a much more fitting outfit.