A hike in the Ape Cave, on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is a good outing, but visitors should adhere to a few guidelines. (ALLEN THOMAS/Columbian files)
The popularity of Mount St. Helens as a tourist destination, combined with its proximity to the Seattle and Portland areas, make the Ape Cave a well-known and well-trodden feature of the area. But with just a little careful planning, visits to the Ape Cave can also be a much more enjoyable experience for visitors and a potentially safer area for wildlife that visit it.
The Ape Cave is the longest continuous lava tube in the continental United States and also the third longest lava tube on the continent. The uniqueness of the cave draws thousands of visitors in the summer and sometimes it feels more like walking through a shopping center and less like a romp in the wilderness.
What’s more, the recent discovery of White Nose Syndrome near North Bend has the U.S. Forest Service concerned about the possibility of the disease spreading to the cave’s bat population. The disease is caused by a fungus that has killed more than 6 million bats in the Eastern U.S. It’s easily spread from cave to cave on the clothing and shoes of people who have visited contaminated areas.
“We are asking everyone who loves Ape Cave to help us protect it so we can continue to provide a high-quality experience for our visitors,” Tedd Huffman, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument manager, said in a news release. “We are also looking for ideas and are working with the community to help protect the cave.”
To maximize the enjoyment of a visit while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts, officials with the U.S. Forest Service recommend offer the following suggestions.
• The best way to avoid the crowds is by visiting on weekdays before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
• Regardless of the outdoor temperature, bring warm clothing for your walk and at least two light sources. The cave is always cool — and dark.
• Clean your shoes before venturing into the Ape Cave. Doing so will help prevent White Nose Syndrome from entering the cave. Shoe cleaning stations will be set up in the area.
There will also be signs and Forest Service personnel on hand at both Ape Cave and Ice Cave in the Mount Adams Ranger District explaining the importance of the caves, the dangers of the disease and how people can help.
• Use the restroom before entering the cave. Bring some water but leave your food behind; it’s not allowed inside.
• Dogs and other pets should be left behind. They’re not allowed in the cave, and some sections of the hike are impassable for them.
• A Northwest Forest Pass or other federal recreation pass is required for vehicles parked at the cave or other parts of the national forests. Day passes are also available for $5 in stores in nearby communities, at Ape Cave and online at: http://tinyurl.com/lels796
