After the rescue of two hikers from the Ape Cave system south of Mount St. Helens in the past month, crews want to remind recreationalists of the need for adequate preparation.
Discovered in the 1940s, the 2.5-mile-long lava tube is the third longest in North America. The system includes two routes: a 1.5-mile upper cave, which includes rock piles, an 8-foot rock wall and an additional 1.5-mile above-ground hike back to the entrance, and a three-quarters-of-a-mile lower cave hike that takes about an hour.
However, the rugged terrain and sharp rocks create a challenge for hikers, and volunteers from the Volcano Rescue Team (VRT) typically respond to between five and 10 calls in the caves every year, including two in the past month.
On Sept. 29, the team received reports of a hiker who received a head injury after falling in the cave system. Eleven members of the VRT, along with North Country EMS, responded to the rescue. On Saturday, nine members of the VRT and two North Country EMS members responded to the cave after receiving reports of a hiker with a limb injury in the lower cave.
Bryce Shirley, a VRT team member, said while the caves see higher traffic in the summertime, the team responds year-round to reports of stranded or injured hikers in the cave system.
Shirley said the cave system presents unique challenges for rescuers, particularly the rocky and sharp terrain in the 2.5-mile cave system. On top of that, rescue teams that descend into the caves lose communication with the surface level.
“Details are often marginal at best,” Shirley said.
When exploring the caves, Shirley said it’s important for hikers to come prepared. Regardless of outside conditions, the cave is 42 degrees year-round, damp and dark, and Shirley said it’s important to dress for the conditions.
The U.S. Forest Service recommends hikers who visit the caves bring:
• Two light sources per person
• Sturdy shoes
• Warm clothing
The Ape Cave is located inside the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, just south of Mt. St. Helens. Reservations for the hike are required between May 18 and Oct. 31.
