At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.
Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown down or buried beneath volcanic deposits. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington state and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.
Just an hour and fifteen minutes north of Portland, Oregon, located at the end of State Highway 504 and 52 miles east of Castle Rock, Washington, in the heart of the blast zone, the Johnston Ridge Observatory’s state-of-the-art interpretive displays magically portray the sequence of geologic events that transformed the landscape. Read amazing eyewitness accounts from eruption survivors, and watch a chilling video of the eruption.
From the observatory, the breathtaking view of the crater and mountain are right before you at the lookout point, but you can also take a 1/2 mile walk on the Eruption Trail and learn how the eruption shaped the surrounding landscape. You can get closer views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plain, and the landslide deposit.
If you have the time, there are multiple points of interest on the highway through the monument park, including viewpoints for photo ops, visitor centers, info booths, and kitschy souvenir shops.
For the really adventurous, I have a number of friends who have hiked/climbed to the edge of the crater. This is a one-day effort. You do not have to be an experienced climber to complete this, but it would help to be in good shape. The views are spectacular. It is also possible to spend a few nights in special camps set up in the blast zone. Everything is provided and during the days you explore the countryside as it is today. We did this as a family when my kids were young. Deer and elk herds are commonplace. Our family will never forget the eerie feeling of standing amongst the miles of charred, grey trees that were flattened by the blast.
I suggest you only venture here when the weather is clear. I made one visit several years ago when the summit was "socked in" by the clouds. In terms of the views, it was almost a complete waste to make the journey. Thank God for the observatory.
http://www.fs.fed.us./gpnf/mshnvm
http://www.parks.wa.gov/interp/mountsthelens/
http://www.visitmtsthelens.com/
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