Mt St Helens

We left Memaloose in a heavy rain. It was dark and the clouds hung low all down through the Columbia River Gorge. On a nicer day this would have been a beautiful drive. Visibility was limited.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River

Bonneville Dam
 

We got to Portland and drove across the river into Washington. We went up to Castle Rock and stayed at the KOA which was on the road that went up to Mt St Helens.

Crossing the Columbia River

The original visitor center was a few miles up the road. We were here about 25 years ago and this was the only center. The roads up to Mt St Helens were old logging roads once you got beyond the town of Toutle. There is a brand new road that has been built up higher and includes 5 new bridges. The old road was down closer to the river and pretty much wiped out by the large mud flows following the eruption. We drove the 52 miles up to the Johnson Ridge Overlook. There was a great film about the volcano and a day by day description from the first earthquake to the eruption.

Road to Mt St Helens

The Toutle River

West Side Mt St Helens

Crater from Johnson Ridge

On the way back down the regrowth trees looked like a bristle brush. They were all planted in rows and all the same age. When we were there before you still saw all the trees blown down in the same direction. The regrowth was only about 18 inches high. Close to Toutle there had been an old A-frame house that was half buried by the mud flows. It was still there but has been turned into a Bigfoot souvenir shop.

Trees Blown Down

Regrowth

A Local Native

Mt St Helens was a large recreational area full of lodges and summer homes. Spirit Lake was a summer destination for generations. The entire area has been declared off limits to everyone except volcano researchers by the NPS.