Check out these stories about what's happening at Mount St. Helens this season!
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Mount St. Helens Institute eNews
Happy New Year - we've got big plans for 2026 with you! It's hard to believe that the new year has already begun! January is kicking things off with a month full of MSHI events and things to do. Storms are bringing a fresh, deep blanket of snow to Mount St. Helens, and with it, opportunities to get out on the mountain for some winter adventures!
News you'll find in this month's edition of Rumblings:
Join MSHI at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in Vancouver!
Volcano Naturalist Program still has a few spots left...
We're Hiring Seasonal Roles on the Education and Guide Teams!
GeoGirls applications open tomorrow!
Volcano Views & Brews: Avalanche Awareness with the Northwest Avalanche Center 1/14/2026
MSHI License plate update
Thank You for Helping us Reach the Summit
Winter is Finally Here at Mount St. Helens!
Photo by Ted Sindzinski
Join MSHI at the Banff Mountain Film Festival
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to the Kiggins Theater in Vancouver on January 30-February 1! Experience an exhilarating and inspiring lineup of films showcasing outdoor adventures, mountain culture, and environmental stories.
The Mount St. Helens Institute is thrilled to once again be a beneficiary of this incredible event. We look forward to connecting with you and sharing in the adventure—see you there!
The 2026 Volcano Naturalist Program Has a Few Spots Left!
Registration for the 2026 Volcano Naturalist Program is open for a few more weeks, and there's still a few spots left! In this 12-week course, participants explore all aspects of Mount St. Helens' geological, biological, and cultural history, learning from experts in the field. This year the program will be held virtually on Tuesday evenings 6:00 to 9:00pm from February 3rd through April 28th, with three optional weekend field trips.
Registration closes January 27, 2026 - don't miss your chance to connect with fellow Mount St. Helens fans and expand your knowledge of the mountain and surrounding area!
Lead Mountain Guides, Assistant Mountain Guides, and Field Camp Hosts on the guide team are a great opportunity to share a love of Mount St. Helens. Folks from all over the world that travel to Washington to live their dreams on the trails around the monument, and many times the guide team is their first interaction with MSHI! From helping people achieve their dreams of standing on the summit at the crater rim to venturing into the breach to behold the Crater Glacier up close, guides get to call the whole Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument the office!
Now Hiring: 2026 Seasonal Education Team Roles!
The Mount St. Helens Institute Educators facilitate meaningful experiences for our guests, including leading hikes and other educational activities, helping students build confidence and a sense of belonging in the outdoors, and sharing their enthusiasm for Mount St. Helens. From the awesome location of the Science and Learning Center above Coldwater Lake, Educators bring programs like Volcano Outdoor School, GeoGirls, Family Adventure Camps and Sky & Star Parties to life - you'll inspire future leaders as an Educator with MSHI!
GeoGirls is an overnight geology and technology field camp for middle and high school girls to explore Mount St. Helens!! The GeoGirls will work with women researchers in action, conduct a focused research project with scientists, visit the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, and conduct a volcanic crisis mission that builds on concepts learned throughout the week, all while taking in the inspiring landscape around the monument. Thanks to grants, business sponsorships and generous donors, GeoGirls is a program that MSHI runs FREE for youth participants!
The 2026 GeoGirls applications open tomorrow, January 9, 2026, and will be open through March 1, 2026 - check out our websitefor more details on the program and information on how to apply! Calling all middle school and high school teachers and women scientists, too - links to apply can be found on the same GeoGirls program page!
Winter in the mountains isn't just a walk in the park. Learn essential skills for safe winter adventures on Mount St. Helens or refresh your knowledge with this introductory Avalanche Awareness class. NWAC instructors will cover avalanche basics, how to read forecasts, and key signs to watch for in the backcountry.
This event is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Join us to raise a glass and prepare for winter adventures together!
We know how excited you are to get your own Mount St. Helens License plate, and believe us, we are too! Our team is working to get Washington State approval of the design as soon as possible. We are hoping to get the green light on the design coming up, and you'll be the first to know once we have a date! We'll also be holding an auction for the first 25 low-number plates, with proceeds supporting MSHI, so you can be the very first to show your volcano pride. Thanks for your patience!
Because of your generosity, we’re thrilled to share that our end-of-year fundraising drive not only met its $60,000 goal, but climbed beyond it! Together, 221 donors raised over $65,500 to support education, stewardship, and access at Mount St. Helens, ensuring this remarkable place continues to inspire learning and wonder for years to come.
Every gift helped carry us upward, step by step, and we are deeply grateful to each person who gave, shared, and cheered us on along the way. As a small thank-you, one supporter has been selected to enjoy a cozy stay at the Lone Fir Resort as the winner of our year-end drawing. The winner has been notified privately.
Thank you for being part of this community and for helping us start the new year from the summit, together.
Winter is Finally Here at Mount St. Helens!
December 2025 brough historic rainfall to the area and wiped out a lot of the snow that had fallen early season - this week it looks like winter has finally returned and the mountain is covered in a blanket of snow since the latest storm cycle. Who's to say whether it will stick around - the weather's been wacky and the only thing constant has been the variability!
That said - there have been a few opportunities to get out and play in the snow in some nice conditions, and hopefully more to come! As we get ready to venture out in the snow around the monument, it's worth going over a few things specific to winter backcountry recreation! Click through the links below to learn more about some tips to make your winter outing around Mount St. Helens safe and fun!
The Ten Essentials - This list from The Mountaineers traces its history back to the third edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills published in 1974, and has become the go-to resource for what to bring when heading out for a hike, no matter the season. This article goes through the ten items and some background on the capability and use cases that earned their spots on the list!
Avalanche Safety Gear - Northwest Avalanche Center has a great article for you if you're planning to tour the mountain on skis or splitboard - it's important to understand how to read an avalanche forecast and carry with you the 3 essential items for avalanche rescue! Climbers that are planning to be out on the upper mountain for a summit bid during avalanche season should consider these items too!
MSHI is also hosting a special Volcano Views & Brews on January 14th for FREE (suggested donation of $10) with NWAC educators that will cover basic avalanche awareness topics at HeathenBrewingin Vancouver!
Ortovox is a German company that has been making mountaineering safety equipment and soft goods since 1980. They've got a great library of free information on high alpine touring techniques that runs through walking techniques on snow and ice, holding and using an ice axe (piolet) as a walking stick, and some basic advice on crampon usage and techniques. Worth checking out if you're new to winter mountaineering, or even if you're a seasoned winter climber!
Mount St. Helens Institute operates under a special use permit from the US Forest Service and is honored to work on the Traditional Cultural Property, ancestral and present-day lands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
Mount St. Helens Institute is an equal opportunity provider.
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