Mount St Helens w/o Permit

[Andrew Jennings]

Has anyone done it?

I'm currently on the waiting list for a permit, but apparently there is someone in front of me and the woman at the Lone Fir Resort didn't sound too optimistic. Normally I wouldn't break the rules but I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to do it again. I've read on other forums that the fine can range from $100 to $500, but I haven't come across anyone that found out the hard way. Anyone know which it is? I'd pay $100 to do it, but $500? Might have to show off my 400m skills from high school.

I was thinking of hitting the trailhead around midnight so that I could grab some good shots of sunrise from the top before stealthily making my way back down to the 4800-feet level soon thereafter. Never been so tips are welcome.

Not asking anyone to aid in any criminal behavior here, just looking for more facts to weigh my options.

[Jerry Adams]

You don't need one after Oct 31

Try posting at portlandhikers.org

[Andrew Jennings]

I lucked out and was able to score a permit off the Lone Fir Resort wait list, but I thought I would close the loop here and let anyone else who was thinking of rolling the dice and going up Mount Saint Helens sans permit:

$100 minimum fine

Never ran into a ranger but I was on the trail by 3:15, at the top by 6:30 and down before noon.

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