Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Mount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock viewpoint, Mt. Adams on left skyline, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WashingtonMount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock viewpoint, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock viewpoint, near
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

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. In a few moments this slab of rock and ice slammed into Spirit Lake, crossed a ridge 1,300 feet high, and roared 14 miles down the Toutle River.

The avalanche rapidly released pressurized gases within the volcano. A tremendous lateral explosion ripped through the avalanche and developed into a turbulent, stone-filled wind that swept over ridges and toppled trees. Nearly 150 square miles of forest was blown over or left dead and standing.

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 and beyond. Wet, cement-like slurries of rock and mud scoured all sides of the volcano. Searing flows of pumice poured from the crater. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.

A vast, gray landscape lay where once the forested slopes of Mount St. Helens grew. In 1982 the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.

Scientists and visitors follow the changes in the landscape and the volcano as surviving plants and animals rise out of the ash, colonizing plants catch hold of the earth, birds and animals find a niche in a different forest on the slopes of Mount St. Helens.

The volcano continued to erupt until 1986, violently at first, then quietly building a lava dome. Thick pasty lava eruptions oozed out, each one piling on top of the next, like pancakes in a sloppy pile. The lava dome is now 920 feet high. The United States Geological Survey scientists continue to monitor the volcano for earthquakes, swelling, and gas emissions.


1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption - Smithsonian Channel

1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption - U.S. Geological Survey

Tuesday, July 30, 1996

I drove around the north end of the Monument to the Coldwater Visitor Center and took in all the sights, exhibits, etc. (The center I visited was closed in 2007 and reopened as a Science and Learning Center in 2012 and then closed again - is closed as of 2019)

Mount St. Helens Recreation Map 1999
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
From Coldwater Visitor Center toward ridge where new Visitor Center is under construction, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
From Coldwater Visitor Center toward ridge where new Visitor Center is under
construction, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

They are building the new Johnston Ridge Observatory up on the ridge that overlooks Spirit Lake which opened about a year later. See also this USGS website.

Mount St. Helens over Coldwater Lake from Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens over Coldwater Lake from Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens over Coldwater Lake created by eruption, Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens over Coldwater Lake created by eruption, Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Layers laid down by Mount St. Helens eruption, Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Layers laid down by Mount St. Helens eruption, Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Coldwater Lake created by eruption, Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Coldwater Lake created by eruption, Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
River valley down which Mount St. Helens eruption flowed, Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
River valley down which Mount St. Helens eruption flowed, Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Drove down to Coldwater Lake which is a new lake created by the eruption.

Coldwater Lake (formed by eruption), Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Coldwater Lake (formed by eruption),
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Coldwater Lake, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Coldwater Lake, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

I worked by way back down the highway stopping at several viewpoints. From Elk Rock viewpoint was able to see some Elk down by the river with my binoculars. Talked to a man who was on his way home to California from a month long trip to Alaska.

At the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center was able to see a whole bunch of elk down by the river with their viewing scope.

A lot of the land west of the monument is owned by Weyerhaeuser and operated as a tree farm. They have a system of roads which for the most part are open to the public.

A gal at the Forest Learning Center, told me that I could drive almost to the top of Elk Rock and have views of Mt. Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier as well as the valley down which the eruption flowed.

I drove up the Elk Rock Road. At the end of the road I found a young couple from the East Coast who were in the process of moving to Seattle to go to school. They have been on a month long tour. They were already setting up camp so I moved back a quarter mile to a saddle where I camped for the night.

Took some pictures of Rainier, Adams and St. Helens including some with the moon. This is a neat spot as I am as high as much of the surrounding mountains except for the major peaks.

Mount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock viewpoint, Mt. Adams on left skyline, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens & river valley from Elk Rock viewpoint, Mt. Adams on left skyline, near
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
River bed in front of Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock viewpoint, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
River bed in front of Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock viewpoint, near
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Tree blowdown from Elk Rock viewpoint, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Tree blowdown from Elk Rock viewpoint, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mt. Hood, Mount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Hood, Mount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock road, near
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens and river valley from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Ranier from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Ranier from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mt. Ranier from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Ranier from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Ranier from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Ranier from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mt. Adams from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Adams from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Adams from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Adams from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mt. Adams, 'The Tank', Mount St. Helens on Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Adams, "The Tank", Mount St. Helens on Elk Rock road, near
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washingto
Moon over Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Moon over Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock road, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Wednesday, July 31, 1996

Since I was waiting for the Windy Ridge road to open on Friday, I just took it easy Wednesday at my free campsite near Elk Rock on Weyerhaeuser land. Took some more pictures and experimented with my various lenses. Beautiful sunny day.

Flowers in Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers in Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers in Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers in Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Flowers in Elk Rock area with Mt. Rainier in back, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers in Elk Rock area with Mt. Rainier in back, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier & flowers from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier & flowers from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Flowers in Elk Rock area with Mt. Rainier in back, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers in Elk Rock area with Mt. Rainier in back, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mt. Rainier from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mt. Adams from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Adams from Elk Rock area, near Coldwater Visitor Center,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock area, dust plume in  crater, near Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock area, dust plume in crater, near
Coldwater Visitor Center, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Thursday, August 1, 1996

I drove back around to Randle and camped at the Iron Creek Campground in preparation for going to Windy Ridge on Friday.

Spirit Lake Map at Donnybrook viewpoint, Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake Map at Donnybrook viewpoint, Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Friday, August 2, 1996 and Saturday, August 3, 1996

It rained during Thursday night and was cloudy and blustery Friday. The clouds were so low that I was driving in them much of the time.

On Friday, I drove to Windy Ridge and you couldn't see much of anything for the clouds. The weather report indicated improving weather. It WAS better and got a little better so I decided to stick around and see what developed.

A guy named Todd put on a half hour talk every hour starting at 11:30 so I listened in on that. Very interesting and very well done even with the intermittent rain, wild winds, etc.

Things got a little better and the clouds lifted enough to see Spirit Lake and some other areas. Took some pictures of Spirit Lake with its large flotilla of logs and then drove to the Norway Pass Trailhead parking lot and decided to stay the night there. No signs said I couldn't and I had it all to myself.

On Saturday, after getting a few pictures I decided to drive to Yakima, WA to get a motel, do laundry, etc. Weather isn't too promising for the next few days in the mountains - nice and clear and sunny in Yakima.

I came back to Windy Ridge on August 11, and got some good pictures. Pictures from both visits are shown below.

Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Wasy green leaf at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Wasy green leaf at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flower at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Berrys at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Berrys at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers and blow down ridge at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Flowers and blow down ridge at Meta Lake on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Spirit Lake from Smith Creek trailhead on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Smith Creek trailhead on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Floating logs in Spirit Lake from Smith Creek trailhead on Windy Ridge road,<br>Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Floating logs in Spirit Lake from Smith Creek trailhead on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Harmony viewpoint on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Harmony viewpoint on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Harmony viewpoint on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Harmony viewpoint on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Spirit Lake from Cedar Creek viewpoint on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Cedar Creek viewpoint on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Cedar Creek viewpoint on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Cedar Creek viewpoint on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Cedar Creek viewpoint on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Cedar Creek viewpoint on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road and my 'Tank', Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road and my "Tank",
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road, about 9 miles from eruption, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road, about 9 miles from eruption,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road,  Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Devastated trees on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Spirit Lake from Donnybrook viewpoint on Windy Ridge road, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Donnybrook viewpoint on Windy Ridge road,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake and chunks of mountain from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake and chunks of mountain from Windy Ridge,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Spirit Lake and chunks of mountain from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake and chunks of mountain from Windy Ridge,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake and chunks of mountain from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake and chunks of mountain from Windy Ridge,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Spirit Lake from Windy Ridge showing lumps that are part of the mountain, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Spirit Lake from Windy Ridge showing lumps that are part of the mountain, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens Crater, peak, old dome, green area preserve by snow, from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens Crater, peak, old dome, green area preserve by snow,
from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens Crater, peak, old dome, green area preserve by snow, from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens Crater, peak, old dome, green area preserve by snow,
from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mount St. Helens peak from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens peak from Windy Ridge,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens, old dome, green area preserved by snow, from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens, old dome, green area preserved by snow, from Windy Ridge,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington

Mount St. Helens Crater, peak, old dome, green area preserved by snow, from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mount St. Helens Crater, peak, old dome, green area preserved by snow, from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Windy Ridge,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Windy Ridge, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Mt. Rainier from Windy Ridge,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington


1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption - A&E - Minute By Minute