My last big adventure didn't go so well.

Postal,
Here's offering you a place to stay for a night, and maybe some company a bit along the local part if it works out in your timing to be a bit north of Vancouver, WA some evening. We're out in the country so there would be a bit of a lack of excitement, but we could find you a beer or two and a meal. Our usual watering hole is in Amboy, and the loop from Battle Ground, to Amboy, Yale, and over to Woodland on I-5 is heavily used and in pretty good shape.
We're in the shadow of St. Helen's to the south and the loop around it is exceedingly popular....however, the leg on forestry roads that begins about 20 miles past Cougar and goes to Randall won't be likely to be open when you come this way. If you want to see the center that is the closest point to the crater and has the program, a movie, etc...that is accessible only from the west at Castle Rock and through Toutle (it's a 35 mile dead end to do that)...and it, also, would need to be checked for being open. Pretty interesting if you're into doing some touristy stuff.
I'm pretty sure Hwy. 12 is nearly always open, not sure about 123 N. to 410 (and Ranier) but believe it to be the same....only closed in extreme weather.
Let us know if you can stop by or if you have any questions.
Chris