Mt. Saint Helens National Historic Monument

Mount Saint Helen's eruption was the largest explosion in the history of the United States and it happened during my lifetime.  It was a must see for both of us and we were not disappointed. 


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.

Bonneville Dam

While in the Portland, Oregon area, we drove east on I-84, through the Columbia River gorge, to Bonneville Dam.  This dam was built during the depression and prompted by President Roosevelt.  The facility also has the largest fish hatchery in the Northwest.  We toured the fish hatchery and enjoyed learning all the processes that lead to populating fish throughout the northwest.

A Sturgeon fish is a huge fish that can grow to 10 feet long and weigh over 450 pounds.  These fish are related to fish from the dinosaur age.  When looking at the Sturgeon fish, with bony skeleton that protrudes to the side of the fish, it is understandable how the fish could have survived throughout the ages.  The hatchery has a sturgeon fish they call "Herman" in a large tank.  He is over 10 feet and weighs 450 pounds.  He is over 70 years old.  What an animal!
The Bonneville Dam also has a Power House that uses water behind the dam to spin huge electric generators that provide power for the northwest.  The power house has a capacity of over 525 megawatts.  The powerhouse has been upgraded over the years to its current capacity.  The visitor center also had fish ladders for several varieties of fish that migrate to the upper levels of the lake behind the dam.

The fish hatchery and dam are open year-round from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is best to visit the dam in the months of April through September when the salmon are more abundant.

There are fish viewing windows and visitors' centers on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the dam. Because of security concerns, visitors may be required to show ID, and it is not possible to cross the entire dam. During most of the year, more fish use the Washington shore fish ladders, so fish viewing may be better on the Washington side of the dam.

From I-84, we see sign for Bonneville Dam.  We had a beautiful drive through the Columbia River gorge to get to Bonneville Dam.  A great drive with wonderful views.

We found a place to park the rig for the day at Bonneville Dam.

Lee thought the flower displays in the fish hatchery grounds were beautiful.

This is a picture of Herman.  A sturgeon fish that is kept by the hatchery.  He is over 70 years old, 10 feet long and weighs over 450 pounds.  His head is over 12 inches across.

I had a telephone call while at Bonneville.  What a great place to take a call.  The temperature was 70 degrees.

Driving on the dam roadway on our way to the Bonneville Dam visitor center.  Definitely, a "concrete mans" dream.

Lee standing next to one of the water turbines that are used in the Bonneville Dam to turn one of the huge generators.

This is a "pill box" used by guards during World War II.  This dam was one of the resources used by the United States to power factories used to build the war machine.

Ten huge generator used at the Bonneville Dam.  The noise was deafening in the building.  Note the small bicycle in the front left of the first generator to see a size reference of these huge machines.

Discharge of the power house.  It should be noted that at Bonneville Dam, a powerhouse releases only a part of the water coming down the Columbia.  A separate overflow dam controls the reservoir level. 

A fish ladder used by fish to migrate to the upper levels of the reservoir.  The fish used under water holes in the ladder walls to go up.  Fish are attracted to this fish ladder by controlling the entrance flows that attract fish swimming up.

GMC Buffalo

We have spent a wonderful week here in Wilsonville, Oregon.  The weather has been perfect!  Lows early in the morning are in the 50s and highs in the low 70s.  Coming from the heat of Texas, the weather change has been great. 

We have used this week to re stock our rig and rest.  Wilsonville is a progressive small town, south of Portland.  We have enjoyed our stay at Pleasant Ridge RV Park.  A very nice park.

While here, we visited Greg Meiling and his gracious wife, Huong.  Greg and I connected through a bus owners group that we both belong to.  The reason for the visit was for me to use my pneumatic leak detector on his bus (while I was in the area) to find a few stubborn leaks that was plaguing his coach.  We are two retired guys that enjoy working on these huge machines.  His bus leaks were minor, but the few he had added up.  Most of the leaks were corrected, however, he will order a few parts needed that we did not have, and then he will have a very "air tight" bus.

We had great fellowship and an excellent meal at the Meiling's home.  We were so hungry, that I forgot to take any pictures of the meal layout.  The meal was great (I ate more egg rolls than I should have;  they were delicious), and Lee and I enjoyed the visit.  Words can't express the appreciation we felt for their fellowship and great meal.

Greg is a very knowledgeable and aggressive bus technician.  He has a Prevost Beaver that was easily considered to be in excellent condition.  Plus, nothing beats the sound of an "8V92" purring!

Here is a shot of Greg and I and the famous "Texas Bubbler".  Notice our knee pads (a must for working on the machines).  We chuckled knowing that we each used knee pads.  It sure saves the skin on "not so young" guys' bony knees.

This is Greg's next bus air conditioner compressor.  He has had enough of the  "Prevost bus air chatter".  This is how it is done in Beaver Country.  Jon had better watch out.

Greg and his lovely wife, Huong, posing next to their 1964 Ford Galaxy, convertible, 390 CID, with a floor mounted 4-speed.  A real dream car for us guys that grew up with these muscle cars in the parking lot.

Greg looking up behind the engine.  His bus has an 8V92.  A great sounding engine.

Opps!  This is what Greg is looking at in the previous picture.  A small leak caused by a bad fitting installation.  Probably installed at the factory when originally built.

Here is a closeup of the copper fitting that was misaligned.  It is these small details that can cause nuisance leaks in a bus's suspension system.  This fitting supplied air to his belt tensioner/release assembly.

No leaks under there.  We went through the entire auxiliary system.  We also found several small leaks in his brake system.  All minor, but enough to leak down over a few days.  His bus is in great shape now.  "Leak free" is the phrase that most bus owners seek.   Now that is a term that will sure to stir controversy.

Greg is correcting a few small leaks on the braking shuttle cock valve.  Sounds odd when you say it like that....