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Mount St. Helens was the fourth and
final mountain destination on my incredible 720 mile scenic trek
through Oregon and Washington on July 15, 2000. I also
traveled there with my friend Sabrina on October 7, 2000. The volcano erupted on May
18, 1980, and much of the devastation is still evident over 20
years later. Many trees have been replanted outside of the
National Monument, but the "destruction" and "blow down" zones
are still
preserved inside the park. From Coldwater Ridge, Johnston
Ridge and along the Boundary Trail, the views of the crater,
lava dome and the outright devastation are incredible.
Johnston Ridge is just 5-1/2 miles from the mountain and is
where USGS scientist David Johnston lost his life in the huge
eruption in 1980. The Observatory named in his honor shows
a film about the eruption that begins with the haunting radio
transmission of Johnston's last words - "Vancouver!
Vancouver! This is it!" Just after sending those
words back to the USGS station in Vancouver, WA, the radio went
dead from the vaporizing force of the eruption. Click on the
thumbnails below to view my current photos. (I'll add more
as I go back.)
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