April 23, 2011, St. Helens, West side

FSR 8123 (to Blue Lk) reopened last year, after suffering wash-outs several years ago, so I spent a day hiking around the area last summer and found a very nice, direct route up to the West crater rim that looked like a great winter or spring trip.  Snowmo days are limited with roads melting out, but it looked like a good day to get over there and indeed was.  Rolled into Cougar snow-park Friday night and found 2-3' of packed snow still on the road at only 2275"!!  No more grooming, but road/trail to the end of 8123 was fast and easy with deep snow at 3200'.  Travel up was quick and easy; about 30' through easy woods and then up the second gully NW of Butte Camp Dome.  Beautiful Blue the whole day, but way more wind than expected/forcasted, though it finally died down about 11am.  On top by 12:30 where we took in those fabulous views  8).  The ride down was loads of fun with about 2000' of wind pack powder, 2000' of corn, and of course 1000' of sticky slop from recent snow that hasn't really packed down yet but got cooked by very warm afternoon temps.  Marble Mtn Sno-Park was reopened with warning sign that it is unplowed, but didn't venture up, so can't say how deep or messy the road is.  It's a ways down there, but I was back in Tacoma having a steak dinner at 6:30  :).  I'm certain John has way better images and will hopefully add some candy.