Mount St Helens trails

I was able to get down in to Smith Creek on Wed. 7/9.  Rd 83 beyond the Marble Mountain Snow Park is nearly clear of snow. There are still some drifts that are melting quickly in the nice warm weather.
I took the old Rd 8322 (I think that's the number) down in to Smith Creek.
that is the road that has a 'Road Closed' sign and is between Ape Canyon
trailhead parking and Lava Canyon parking lots. Gifford Pinchot NF
personnel did do a wonderful job last fall in clearing out all of the downed
trees that were there. There are a few new ones down from this past winter,
but nothing compared with the previous winter's downed trees.

There was also some snow at the upper end of this access road which was
keeping the alders down. Over all condition of this access road is pretty
fair. If you go down bring some snippers and cut some of the smaller
overhanging branches back. There are two fairly short stretches that are
rough where water is/has coursing down the old road bed making for rough
going. Otherwise this is a decent way to do the epic Ape Canyon/Smith Creek
loop in a few weeks time. At the bottom there is an upright stick with pink
flagging tape marking the lower end of the road, along with a tree laid
lengthways across the trail.
The crossing of Muddy River is not safe and the singletrack trail up/down
Lava Canyon/Muddy River is not doable because of trail washouts and the
ladder is missing. Lava Canyon parking lot is signed closed because of trail
damage - not that cars can get there, but it is still signed as closed to
the public at this time.
I rode up the Smith Creek trail as far as the lower end of Ape Canyon creek
crossing. There are several trees down and some rough spots on the Smith
Creek trail the closer you get to Ape Canyon creek. However, conditions
are pretty decent. 

I didn't get up on to the Ape Canyon trail. I ran out of energy and time.
However, I'm assuming that the snowpack is still pretty deep on that trail
at this point.
I did hear that the road up to Windy Ridge should be open in about a week or
two. There's still snow on it. So, if anyone from points north wants to do
the ride from Windy Ridge to Ape Canyon, that could be doable then -
depending on how the snow is on the north side of the Plains of Abraham.
I'll have photos from my ride today posted on flickr - hopefully tomorrow
evening.

I had a great time up there today. I think I was the first person down in
Smith Creek this season. On my way back out I noticed some footprints that
weren't there when I went in. Not sure if they were from a big cat, or
what! There were some older signs of bear working some of the trees, but
nothing recent.

Dave