Mt St Helens

On August 20th through the 22nd Joanna and I visited Mt St Helens.

On May 18th, 1980 Mt St Helen's experienced the most massive volcanic eruption known to science, losing 1,300 feet of elevation. It poured molten lava, rock and debris 14 miles down the Toutle River, raising the river bed more than 300 along the way. Standing in the midst of the 150 square miles of devastation, it is impossible to imagine the speed and vastness of destruction that happened in mere moments. Visiting the site was a deeply moving experience.

View of Mt St Helens from a distance of 5.5 miles at the Ranger Station. The wind reached this spot approximately one minute after the explosion carrying rocks the size of beach balls traveling sideways at 500 miles an hour at a temperature of between 600 and 700 degrees fahrenheit. An unimaginable horizontal stone blizzard.

These stumps are near the Ranger Station. They were about 150 feet in height and around 200 years old at the time of the eruption and were sheared off near the ground immediately following the blast.

If you look closely, you can see tree trunks. From 10 miles to 17 miles away from the blast, everything was either incinerated or blown off the trees within brief minutes, leaving only the trunks. Within 10 miles of the blast, everything was blown away at ground level. Dave Johnson, a scientist was killed by the explosion on the site of the current ranger station. He was there to monitor the eruption the volcanologists knew was coming. The accepted knowledge was that he was safe because no previous volcanic eruption had ever extended anywhere near 5.5 miles.

Coldwater Lake

This lake was formed by volcanic debris blocking one of the streams coming down the mountain. In the initial years following the eruption it could support only one cell life as it was full of ash and particulates from the volcano. Mother nature has improved the water quality to where it is a pristinely clear mountain lake teeming with stocked trout. Fishing is allowed with a one fish limit. This view shows Mt St Helens from a distance.

The Inlet to Coldwater Lake

A long view of Mt St Helens. In the middle of the caldera, you will see a dome. This consists of molten lava with a cooled rock crust. It is growing daily and is currently 930 feet high. The steam coming out of a vent on top of the dome lets you know that the volcano is alive and kicking. Scientists now know that Mt St Helens has erupted on this scale at least 5 times over the millennia.

Fireweed

Seacoast Lupine

If looking for a great place to stay, consider the Blue Heron Lodge. It is located on the main road up to Mt St Helens. The owner/operator, Eric Hanich is a great host and provides a very good breakfast.

Contact info: host@blueheroninn.com - 360-274-9595

For more information on Mt St Helens: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/