Loo-wit: Nisqually name for Mount St. Helens meaning Lady of Fire
Last weekend we got to experience something pretty incredible. Like, bucket list incredible.
The Loowit Trail around Mount St. Helens is a classic Pacific Northwest trail which circumnavigates the mountain. Rugged, remote, and exceptionally challenging, it traverses in and out of the blast zone, with major elevation gain & loss. It's most often recommended that the Loowit be hiked in 3 to 4 days.
So of course, we signed up to run it in 1.
Heading in to the Volcanic 50, my biggest anxiety about race day was not losing the trail. I have a habit of being behind the midpack, putting me often times all by my lonesome. I normally don't mind, but given the remoteness & technical nature of the course, I was hoping it would be well-marked enough that I'd be OK on my own.
The course markings were sufficient, and during the times that I was alone and the cones & streamers were few, I just remembered: "You're smart. You can figure this out. Scan what's around you, take your time, and look for the clues." No problem!
Next to that, my other concern was the time cut-off. I had 9 hours to make it to aid station #4 at the 24.3 mile mark. Now, 9 hours may seem like a long time, but since we had been forewarned to expect a finish time closer to a 50 miler than a 50K, it was hard to gauge. That, and, I needed to bank some good time to be able to stop and look around. I wanted to really be able to absorb the day and remember everything I was able to see. I was really happy that even with the demanding course, I was able to cruise in to the 4th aid station in 7:30. Plenty of time to spare!
The rest of what follows is just a few of the pictures I took out on course. Any superlatives one could bestow on this place will fall flat. I knew it would be incredible, but I was not prepared for just how incredible it would be.
Hopping onto the Loowit, our friend for the rest of the day, at a few miles in.
The lava fields, which started fairly soon after starting on the Loowit. The course is permanently marked by posts, and enhanced by the orange cones put out by the race directors.
It was exciting to get views of the Cascade Range, which made it tough to remember how important it was to keep an eye on your footing!
Aid station #2, at 12.2 miles, was the South Fork Toutle River crossing. This is taken from the south bank. See the tiny spots of orange down in the lower right next to the river? That was the crossing. See the little people about halfway up the north bank?
That's how you got back to the trail on the other side. How fun is that?!
(Don't worry, mom, there was a rope to hang on to.)
After the river crossing, the real fun began. We entered the eruption impact zone, and were treated to some stunning views of the mountain. It had been about 9 years since our last hiking trip down here, and I was so fascinated by how much restoration has occurred in that short time.
Continuing around the north side of the mountain, the Loowit takes you within a few kilometers of the Breach. It was moments like this when it was impossible not to think about the magnitude of force it took to move such a massive amount of earth.
The view off to the Northwest of Spirit Lake, probably around 19 or so miles in.
Approaching Windy Pass, the highest point of the course, at around 4900 feet.
Up at the top of Windy Pass, looking back at where I'd come from. Anywhere you see what looks to be a small tan ribbon in the lower left of the frame is Loowit Trail.
After Windy Pass, the trail descended down into the Plains of Abraham. Once again, the landscape was different, as we passed out of the east side of the eruption impact line.
Ghostly trees, nearing the last aid station, probably around mile 23 or so.
The weather shifted slightly, and Loowit was capped in clouds.
I love that you can still see the glaciers peeking out.
After the last aid station, the canyons began. In & out, up & down, one after another, with more orange cones to guide the way. There's a small waterfall here in the lower left. There's another runner, in blue, crossing it.
Around mile 27 or so, just when I was thinking we should be heading back into lush Pacific Northwest forest, the real treat for tired legs came: more lava fields. Yaay!
Thankfully, the last 2.5 miles were a glorious forested cruise back to the finish line.
I came in with a finishing time of 10:10:41, and a whole lot of gratitude for the day.
Trail running has taken my legs, lungs and mind to places I never would have otherwise, and now that it's in my blood, I know I'm in it for life.
Happy Trails-
Tigerlily
