The largest and highest bridge along Washington State’s Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, Hoffstadt Creek is a deck truss bridge with a main span of 600 feet (183 mtrs). Opened in 1991, the new highway was built to replace the original highway that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980. By taking an elevation high above the North Fork of the Toutle River, the new route 504 is safer from potential debris run off and flood damage. The continuous truss was built by erecting the outside spans of 332 feet (101 mtrs) on falsework and then cantilevering the central span of 600 feet (183 mtrs) from each side. The approaches are steel plate girders with spans that vary from 148 feet (45 mtrs) to 232 feet (71 mtrs). The truss reaches a depth of 56 feet (17 mtrs) above the piers. The bridge cost 12.6 million dollars and uses 2,505 tons of steel. Shelby Bridge Co. was the contractor, Universal Structural was the fabricator and Western Pacific erected it. The bridge won the 1996 Merit Bridge Award for a Long Span bridge from the American Institute of Steel Construction Inc.

Hoffstadt Creek is not the only tall bridge on route 504. Nearby Cow Creek bridge is also high at 260 feet (79 mtrs).

Photo by Adrian

On Tuesday, April 20, the Washington State Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest- U.S. Forest Service, reopened the gates past Coldwater Lake (milepost 45) and the Hummocks Trail, giving visitors better access to the mountain’s breathtaking scenery and spectacular crater views.

Permits are required year-round. From April 1 - October 31, permits must be purchased online in advance through recration.gov. Visitor our permits page for more information. From November 1 - March 31 permits are free, unlimited, and self-issue at the trailhead.

Please climb with your quarantine household, and maintain at least 6 feet of space between yourself and other hikers. Please review our Mount St. Helens and COVID-19 page to learn about open trailheads and sites, expected services, and how to recreate responsibly. Please bring a mask to put on when you pass others on the trail.

WINTER ROUTE, WORM FLOWS OUT OF MARBLE MOUNTAIN SNO PARK:

Road 83 to Marble Mountain is clear and snow-free. A Washington State Sno-Park Pass, purchased in advance, is required to park at Marble Mountain between December 1 - March 31, or as posted. Climbers are required to utilize blue bags to pack out all human or pet waste, including toilet paper.

Woods to tree line snow is 3' deep at Marble Mountain, and hard-packed through the forest. Above tree line, snow is firm and packed in the morning, but becoming slushy in afternoon spring sunshine. Snow still fills many of the valleys, concealing much of the topography, but sunshine and warm weather could melt out some rocks in the coming days. Crampons or skis currently recommended.

A large cornice has formed along the summit rim - PLEASE STAY BACK 15-20 feet to avoid cornice collapse. DO NOT assume that an area is safe just because you see footprints in the snow. There is no safe view into the crater. The true summit is 1/4 mi west of where the route tops out.

Route finding: Do not just follow the "fall-line" on your descent ("fall line" is if you were to roll a ball down the hill, it would travel with gravity and that would take you off-route). Route finding may be challenging, especially in dense cloud or fog; be sure to know the route and carry navigation equipment.

Glissading: many glissade paths crisscross the mountain and can easily take descending climbers far away from the route. Getting lost is easy. Be sure that you follow the glissade trails that take you back to your car. Glissading is also the number one source of serious injuries. Remove crampons, securely stow any loose gear, and glissade only when the snow is soft. Beware of glissade trails that end in rocks, ice, or cliffs.

Forecast: Warm and sunny weather with mild winds expected for the coming week

Avalanche danger remains moderate even with spring conditions. A large slab avalanche big enough to be lethal was witness last week, and cornice failures along ridgelines are common this time of year. Check the NW Avalanche Center for the latest forecast.

Mountaineering boots with gaiters, crampons, snowshoes or skis, and ice axes are recommended. With more snow accumulation, backcountry travel becomes increasingly risky and avalanche-prone. Be prepared with avalanche knowledge and equipment, and do not assume other visitors have the same training.

Mount St Helens Climbers Safety Alert: A cornice (giant, overhanging mass of snow) forms every year at the summit and can release at any time, plunging into the crater. Stay well back from the edge and do not trust tracks already present.

Trip planning info via Mount St Helens Institute: https://www.mshinstitute.org/.../preparing-for-your-climb...

Download a free, GPS-enabled Motor Vehicle Use Map using the Avenza Maps App

Download a PDF version from our website: Map

Paper copies will also be available outside of ranger district offices. Please call the district office in advance to verify copies are still available. Not all offices are open to walk-up services at this time. Contact Us Learn more about the map. Maps & Publications

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In 2021 St. Helens climbing permits are available via Recreation.gov on the 1st of each month at 7am PST for the following month, during the permit quota season, ending October 31, 2021. This is a change from previous years.

The number of permits available per day during the permit quota season was adjusted for 2021 to reduce congestion and user conflicts at parking areas, facilities, and on the mountain during the COVID-19 pandemic. 300 permits are available per day from April 1 - May 14, and 110 permits per day will be available May 15 – Oct. 31, 2021. Un-needed permits may be refunded up to 7 days before your climb and put back into the permit system for re-sale, so check Recreation.gov throughout the season for newly available permits!

Get a climbing permit via Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675309

Learn more about the route, safety & requirements: https://www.mshinstitute.org/explore/climbing-permits/

Mount St. Helens Climbing Permit Seasons 2021

New in 2021: Starting at 7:00 am on March 1, 2021, all climbing permits for the month of April will be available for purchase through Recreation.gov. Additional permits will be made available on the first

of each month for the subsequent month, throughout the permit quota season, ending October 31, 2021. Review Frequently Asked Questions about the new permit changes.

April 01- May 14 Climbing Season

A permit is required.

A permit fee is charged.

Climbing use is limited to 300 persons a day.

Advance purchase online is required.

Snowmobile use is allowed above 4800 feet with a permit provided that it is outside the designated non-motorized corridor (see non-motorized corridor map).

May 15- October 31 Climbing Season

A permit is required.

A permit fee is charged.

Climbing use is restricted to 110 daily permit holders.

Advance purchase online is required.

Snowmobile use is not allowed above 4800 feet.

November 01- March 31 Climbing Season

A permit is required.

A permit fee is not charged.

Climbing use is unrestricted.

Online registration is not required.

You must self-register at Marble Mtn Sno-Park (open all winter) or at the Climber's Register at Climbers Bivouac (usually closed Dec- May for winter).

Snowmobile use is allowed above 4800 feet with a permit provided that it is outside the designated non-motorized corridor (see non-motorized corridor map).

03/30/2021: Ape Cave remains closed to align with Washington State efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Forest Road 8303 is currently gated one mile before the cave. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic are prohibited beyond the gate at this time. Opening On May 18, 2021 Ape Cave will re-open to the public with a new timed reservation system. Timed reservation tickets will be available on recreation.gov starting April 29th. 

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Drive-Thru hours will remain the same and we'll continue to offer the same great services there that we have been the past several months. (http://longviewlibrary.org/techtipholds.php)

OPEN BUILDING HOURS: Monday-Thursday, 10am - 12pm, 2pm - 4pm.

+We will limit the number of people in the building, with a 20 minute time limit for visits.

+NEW: Limited internet computers are available. Log in with your library card, guest pass

(available at the main checkout desk), or reserve by telephone. Desk staff are only able to provide limited assistance at this time.

+Holds will still need to be picked up through Library Drive-Thru.

+Masks are required and will be provided if you don't have one. If you cannot wear a mask, please use our Drive-Thru service.

+Payments accepted by credit card or check only (no cash)

Remember that you can still place holds and pick up library materials (as well as tax forms, mobile print jobs, and more) through Library Drive-Thru and request information, obituaries and reference via phone (360.442.5300--Monday-Friday, 10 am to 4 pm) and Ask a Librarian.