It's been a little over 32 years since the volcano/mountain blew apart on May 18, 1980. Yet, even today, the scenes brought feelings of awe and reflection. It seemed as though we should observe in silence.
We started at the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center. It's a beautiful facility. They offer a great orientation video, historical exhibits, and our first glimpse of the mountain.
The Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center was the next stop along the way. It offered a great view of the mud flow along the Toutle River and a temptation.
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| Dick was tempted by this way of viewing the mountain (but, $10/min was a bit much for the experience) |
The Hoffstadt Creek Bridge was one of many along the way. It was located on the edge of the volcano's blast zone.
Johnston Ridge Observatory and the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument provided excellent orientation videos, exhibits, survivor statements, ranger talks, and views of the mountain. The observatory was named for David Johnston, a U. S. Geological Survey geologist, who died observing the blast from this place ... his final report was "Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!"
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| North face, hummocks and pumice plain |
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| Huge trees stood here 32 years ago |
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| The trees just snapped! |
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| Mountainsides were barren |
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| Spirit Lake (in center background) |
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| The National Volcanic Monument is built into the mountain |
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| This has been a memorable journey |
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| You don't miss Patty's sign |
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| View from the back porch |
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| They wouldn't serve these guys |
Weyerhaeuser lost 30 log trucks in the 1980 eruption. This looks like one of them. The trees have grown up through the frame and engine compartment.
Carol did research for tomorrow's trip when we got back home.
The devastation here is just amazing! I was at a conference in Seattle a couple of months after Mt. St. Helens blew, and all participants at the conference got a small vial of the ash as a "souvenir".
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