The Mount St. Helens Institute began selling climbing permits Friday for the upcoming peak season on the mountain.
Permits are always required to venture above 4,800 feet on the volcano. During the peak season, between April 1 to Oct. 31, a fee of $22 is charged for each permit.
There is no charge between Nov. 1 and March 31.
Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. From May 15 until the end of October, officials impose a limit of 100 permits per day to minimize impact on the mountain’s natural regeneration, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Peak season climbing permits can be purchased online through the Mount St. Helens Institute at http://mshinstitute.org.
