2009 Bill and Roz Visit

Back to Ed's Pictures | | Mt. St. Helens Excursion

Sunday, we took a ride up to Mt. St. Helens in Washington. We had never been there, so it was a discovery for all of us, and well worth the trip. The only frustration is that the peak of the mountain itself was shrouded in fog all day, which didn't start to clear until we were on the way back to the highway. We ended up eating lunch and dinner at the same restaurant (the Fire Mountain Grill) in Toutle, Washington, because it is really the only restaurant up there. We had the same waitress for both meals, and it was not bad food.

Album Index

At the Mount S. Helens Vistor Center in Castle Rock. This is near I-5 and is the jumping off point for the drive up to the blast zone. At the Mount S. Helens Vistor Center in Castle Rock. This is near I-5 and is the jumping off point for the drive up to the blast zone.		We stopped along the way for a short hike to see the sediment dam that was erected to reduce the amount of ash that flowed down the river. We stopped along the way for a short hike to see the sediment dam that was erected to reduce the amount of ash that flowed down the river.
The sediment dam is the concrete structure on the right side of the picture. The sediment dam is the concrete structure on the right side of the picture.				Hofstadt Creek Bridge. This is at the edge of the blast zone. All of the trees to the right beyond here were blown down. Hofstadt Creek Bridge. This is at the edge of the blast zone. All of the trees to the right beyond here were blown down.
A view upstream from the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center. All of the trees on the hills in this picture (18 million seedlings over about a ten year period) were planted by Weyerhaeuser after the 1980 eruption. A view upstream from the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center. All of the trees on the hills in this picture (18 million seedlings over about a ten year period) were planted by Weyerhaeuser after the 1980 eruption.	Piles of timber to be use for retaining walls to keep the meandering river from cutting too wide a swath. Piles of timber to be use for retaining walls to keep the meandering river from cutting too wide a swath.	View downstream from the Forest Learning Center. Again, all of the trees in this picture were planted by hand after the 1980 eruption destroyed the entire forest. View downstream from the Forest Learning Center. Again, all of the trees in this picture were planted by hand after the 1980 eruption destroyed the entire forest.		Bill at one of the Forest Learning Center overlooks. The gray swath in the background is ash from the 1980 eruption. Bill at one of the Forest Learning Center overlooks. The gray swath in the background is ash from the 1980 eruption.
	Telescopic shot across the canyon. The tall trees are ones that escaped blast of the eruption. Telescopic shot across the canyon. The tall trees are ones that escaped blast of the eruption.		Flowers growing around the Forest Learning Center Flowers growing around the Forest Learning Center
		A core sample inside of the Learning Center showing layers of soil and ash in the area. A core sample inside of the Learning Center showing layers of soil and ash in the area.	Lunch at the Lunch at the
Lunch at the Fire Mountain Grill Lunch at the Fire Mountain Grill		Washington flags at the restaurant Washington flags at the restaurant	Helicopter rides. Too much money. Helicopter rides. Too much money.
		River flowing through the ash. Large amounts of ash washed all the way to the Columbia River River flowing through the ash. Large amounts of ash washed all the way to the Columbia River


At the entrance to the park. At the entrance to the park.

		Some blasted trees still little hillsides Some blasted trees still little hillsides

	Johnston Ridge Observatory is a ridge overlooking the mountain and the ash field remaining from the 1980 eruption. This ridge was scoured bare, and you can see a lot of evidence in these pictures. Johnston Ridge Observatory is a ridge overlooking the mountain and the ash field remaining from the 1980 eruption. This ridge was scoured bare, and you can see a lot of evidence in these pictures.
		Eroded ash. The thickest ash deposites are 600 feet deep. Eroded ash. The thickest ash deposites are 600 feet deep.	Volunteer work crew cleaning up and repairing trails. Volunteer work crew cleaning up and repairing trails.

Landscape north of the volcano. The blue patch on the left is Spirit Lake, which was literally moved to its current location by the eruption. Landscape north of the volcano. The blue patch on the left is Spirit Lake, which was literally moved to its current location by the eruption.
			He does not really care about all of this. He does not really care about all of this.

		Mount St. Helens. The peak is covered by clouds, but you can see it peeking out in some of these shots. Mount St. Helens. The peak is covered by clouds, but you can see it peeking out in some of these shots.

			A rusty waterfall cascading out of the ash field. A rusty waterfall cascading out of the ash field.
		The rim of the volcano is just visble above the clouds. The rim of the volcano is just visble above the clouds.

	Roz playing with the seismograph inside of the Johnston Ridge visitor center. Roz playing with the seismograph inside of the Johnston Ridge visitor center.			Clouds starting to clear a little Clouds starting to clear a little
		This is just the edge of the caldera This is just the edge of the caldera		Ready to go. Ready to go.
As long as the mountain was visible, we kept stopping at the turnouts to take pictures. As long as the mountain was visible, we kept stopping at the turnouts to take pictures.

	The clouds are finally gone, but we are way down the valley by this point. The clouds are finally gone, but we are way down the valley by this point.