|
|
| » Back to Northwest home | » Mount
St. Helens, pg 2 » Next section: Long Beach Peninsula |
|
|
|
St. Helens is still active, and lava domes continue to grow within the crater. We approached the volcano from two directions. From our campground in White Salmon, WA, we drove the windy roads to Windy Ridge. This is the only route on which you can see Spirit Lake. On the way home, we hiked a part of the Lewis River and viewed two impressive waterfalls. Later, we drove out to Johnston Ridge from our Kelso, WA, campground. From this vantage point, you can look directly into the crater on the side that the eruption occurred. We stopped off at the five visitor centers along the way. |
|
| WINDY RIDGE | |
 |
|
| At a viewpoint looking west toward Mount St. Helens | |
 |
 |
| Photos taken by Gary Rosenquist
at Bear Meadow Ridge captured the lateral eruptions of St. Helens . . . then he ran for his life! |
|
 |
 |
| Entering the ghost forests of Mount St. Helens Nat'l Volcanic Monument | |
 |
 |
| Trees lie where they were felled by the eruption | One tree has kept its footing, but not its head |
 |
 |
| Wildflowers (pearly everlasting and fireweed) and other plant life have returned | |
 |
 |
| Denuded rock outcroppings | |
 |
 |
| At Windy Ridge, steps lead to a viewing area | |
 |
 |
| Digiscoping the interior of the crater | |
 |
|
| Mount St. Helens from Windy Ridge | |
 |
|
| View of Spirit Lake, indundated with fallen trees | |
|
|
| Another view of Spirit Lake | |
| LEWIS RIVER WATERFALLS HIKE | |
 |
 |
| Danger sign notes a Japanese student died here in 1992 | Trail start at the Lower Falls of the Lewis River |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hiking the Lewis River trail | |
 |
 |
| Birch trees and sword ferns line the trail | |
 |
 |
| On the banks of the Lewis River | Rustic bridges span the creeks flowing into the river |
 |
 |
| Middle Falls of the Lewis River | |
 |
|
| Late afternoon at Middle Falls | |
| » Back to Northwest home | » Mount
St. Helens, pg 2 » Next section: Long Beach Peninsula |
Mount
St. Helens erupted mightily on May 18, 1980. This year is the 25th anniversary
of that event. The volcano erupted again in October 2004, but with much
less impact than the Big One in 1980.