A well deserved comment concerning the National Parks Service. Mount Saint Helens is considered a national monument, thus, it is managed by the national parks service. Of all the national parks we have visited, this is the best. They have done a great job of presenting and describing the events surrounding Mount Saint Helens eruption. Well Done!
A visitors center operated by the state of Washington that describes events concerning Mount Saint Helens is the first stop along HWY 504.. Highway 504 from I-5 goes 50 plus miles into the interior of the Cascade Mountain Range to a location called the David Johnston Observatory. It faces the area of Mt St Helens that "blew out". Although located 5 miles away from the crater, it is perfectly located for excellent views of the volcano. The David Johnson Observatory is named in honor of a Volcanologist that lost his life during the eruption.
An eruption column rose 80,000 feet into the atmosphere and deposited ash in 11 U.S. states. At the same time, snow, ice and several entire glaciers on the volcano melted, forming a series of large lahars (volcanic mudslides) that reached as far as the Columbia River, nearly fifty miles (eighty kilometers) to the southwest. Less severe outbursts continued into the next day only to be followed by other large but not as destructive eruptions later in 1980.
We were fortunate enough to met a couple that lived only 50 miles from Mt St Helens during the eruption. They stated that ash covered their yard and plugged their gutters. It took several months to clear and wash the abrasive ash away.
Another interesting fact is the Mount Saint Helens contains the only actively growing glacier in the United States. The shape of the volcano crater provides shade to parts of the crater that provide the perfect environment for ice glacier growth. A glacier has grown around the volcano vent and is growing down the face. The glacier is gray or ash colored.
The drive to the Mount Saint Helens David Johnson observatory is very notable. A narrow highway climbing the rich timberland of the Cascade Mountains was a very nice drive. Lee and I both rode with our windows down enjoying all the smells and scenery of mother nature. The trip is over an hour long to the observatory, but well worth the effort.
We stopped at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center located on the route taken to the "David Johnson Observatory" located at the eruption site. It is well done, but is operated by the state of Washington, not the Parks Service.
One of the displays showing genealogist at work.
More displays.
Lee at our lunch stop. We had a great view of Mt. Saint Helens and a very busy helicopter pad used to ferry tourist to fly over the mountain.
Our view.
Lee and Mt. St. Helens in the background. Note the ash debris in the valley behind Lee. This is after 30 years since the eruption.
Mount Saint Helens view during the drive up the mountain.
At the David Johnson Observatory one of the many remnants thrown by the force of the eruption. Note the roots were torn from the ground. We are five miles from the volcano and destruction is still very evident.
This is a picture from the theater located in the David Johnson Observatory. The parks service has done a great job with how they have done this. A video presentation is given indicated what led up to and the actual eruption. After the movie, the screen rises and our the windows, you see the actual mountain. Very well done!!
An occasion worth commenting on, I received by Golden Age Pass. I am not sure if I should celebrate or cry. Lee refused to get hers. She said no way, I'm not their yet!
This was taken my Lee. She sees these signs as we travel. I will not comment any farther.
Hector with Mount Saint Helens in the background. The drive up the mountain was well worth the effort. Driving in the remote high country of the Cascade Mountains is a treat.
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