Mount St Helen's

On our last full day in Olympia, we spent the morning waiting to get Splinter back, but alas another part was needed (sound of $$$$ flying out the window).  Since we had already planned to see Mt St Helen's, we opt to do the short drive down for the afternoon.

The first stop was at the State of Washington's Visitors' Center.  An oddity with this National Park is that it has at least three Visitors' Centers, one operated by the State of Washington (fee to state), another by the Feds (fee to Uncle Sam) and another private (free). The first one is right off of Hwy 5 and most popular with tour buses (easy in and out then onto the next sight). Just about everyone takes the same photo as the one below.

Washington State Mt St Helen's Visitor Center

Standard photo

As we have more time, we drive into the National Park and up to the Johnson Ridge Observation Visitor Center. As we enter the "Blast Zone" it becomes immediately apparent we're not in Kansas any more. All the trees in the "forest" are the same age and type (Blue Noble Pine planted in 1983 a few years after the explosion) versus the tall mixed forests surrounding Mt Rainier. Also, there's no peek-a-booing through the trees and around the corners to see the volcano. It's in plain sight.

Mono culture forest

Clear view of Mt St Helen

Even though we know we're in the blast zone, it's hard to see where the mountain exploded at first. The evidence soon becomes apparent.

Looks like blast debris

coming from the volcano

As we get closer, the land turns into a moonscape.

That's a lot of ash

rivers of ash

mountains of ash

Trees and whole forests blown away like so many matchsticks.

Mountains covered with flattened trees

Large tree with top ripped off

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The once heavily forested area around Spirit Lake is still desolate even after 30 years.

Spirit Lake

The views from the Johnson Ridge Observation Center are amazing. No matter how many photos and movies, etc. we've seen about this event, our minds have a hard time fathoming the size and force of the blast.

View from Johnson Ridge

The missing half of the mountain

Peter taking photos

In contrast with all the devastation, wildflowers are blooming in abundance all around the dead logs and over mounds of ash.
No matter what you may have seen or heard about Mt St Helen's, experiencing it up close and personal is truly a mind boggling experience.

Humans are dwarfed in contrast to the blasted side of Mt St Helen's

Stories

Like the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake in Santa Cruz county, just about everyone who was alive during the 1980 explosion of Mt St Helen can vividly remember the event and their responses.

• A farmer 255 miles to the north remembers hearing three distinct explosions and thought people were dynamiting in a nearby gravel pit.
• A military retiree living close to Seattle, feared a nuclear attack on the city was underway.
• A child at the time was thrown to the ground in Little Rock where his family had been evacuated to.  Their family home and ranch was wiped off the face of this earth.
• A rancher over 100 miles to the northeast became alarmed and panicked as the large black cloud of smoke and ash approached.