From Randle on Monday, August 5, we took the drive up to Windy Ridge and Spirit Lake at the base of Mt. St. Helens. It was only a half day trip. The drive started out by driving up through pretty forest, then we hit the area that was devastated by the eruption in 1980.
The eruption (which was a level 5 event) was the only significant one to occur in the lower 48 U.S. states since the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak in California. ] The eruption was preceded by a two-month series of earthquakes and steam-venting episodes, caused by an injection of magma at shallow depth below the volcano that created a huge bulge and a fracture system on the mountain's north slope. Prior to the eruption, scientists convinced local authorities to close Mount St. Helens to the general public and to maintain the closure in spite of local pressure to re-open it; their work saved thousands of lives. An earthquake at 8:32:17 a.m. PDT on Sunday, May 18, 1980, caused the entire weakened north face to slide away, suddenly exposing the partly molten, gas- and steam-rich rock in the volcano to lower pressure. The rock responded by exploding a hot mix of lava and pulverized older rock toward Spirit Lake so fast that it overtook the avalanching north face. An eruption column rose 80,000 feet (24 km; 15 mi) 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 volcanic mudslides that reached as far as the Columbia River, nearly 50 miles 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. Fifty-seven people were killed. Hundreds of square miles were reduced to wasteland causing over a billion U.S. dollars in damage ($2.88 billion in 2014 dollars), thousands of game animals were killed, and Mount St. Helens was left with a crater on its north side. The area was later preserved, as it was, in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
We had been to the more popular visitor area in 2004. It does indeed look like a moon scape.
Doug had been to Windy Ridge with his son several years ago, but wanted me to see what the devastation looked like that had never been touched other than some fallen tree removal over 5 years. It was something to see! It is hard to grasp the concept of how powerful the force was. The rusted car shown in the last picture shows what it looked like after the blast. The men had no chance of survival. The car still remains as a reminder.
There are several impressive views as you follow the winding road to the last overlook. These cute little baby sparrows were nesting up in the restroom building. If I hear wildlife around, I usually find it!
In the next pictures, you can see Spirit Lake as it is today, plus how the mountain slid into the lake. The gray you see in the 1st panoramic view is the logs that have been there since the eruption. Amazing! No use of the lake is allowed.
The last overlook is at Windy Ridge. If you look carefully, just a tiny bit to the right of center you can see the lava dome that has formed. It was interesting to get a different view of the landscape. Let’s hope we don’t see another eruption like that again in our lifetime. A bit scary, but the mountain did smoke some just 2 weeks after our visit in 2004.
Now, remember the winding road in the pictures above? I sure do!! On the way up, I was on the inside lane. I got sick to my stomach just thinking of coming down on the outside lane long before we got to the top! When it was time to head down, I put a paper towel up under the side of my glasses so my peripheral vision would not let me look down! The road was right on the edge of the mountains for several miles with NO shoulder, NO guardrail, just straight drop offs! Yikes! It was a white knuckle ride as I was practically in Doug’s lap as he drove the center of the road as much as possible. I was NOT happy! I was so glad to reach the tree lined forest! At least that is something of a buffer. This is now #2! The road to Mt. Evans outside of Denver, CO, at #1, and now this road, are 2 roads I swear I will NEVER ride on again! That is how frightened I was. Then back at the campground, the owner later tells me that there have been problems with people driving off that road! At least she told me AFTER the fact!
I saw it in the winter time, but never in the summer. Thanks for sharing the photos.
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