First of all, if anyone noticed a break in posting travelogue updates over the past couple weeks, it's because I was ill during that time and unable to perform. Now back to near normal, I'm ready to carry on my duties.
Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980 with the largest and most devastating volcanic event in recorded U.S. history. In that eruption, 57 people died, 250 homes and 57 bridges were destroyed, a full 1300 feet of elevation was blasted from the mountain, and a crater one mile wide and half-mile deep was created. Volcanic activity has continued with numerous minor eruptions and formation of lava domes.
One of the victims was a man named Harry Truman, who ran a lodge and had lived on the mountain for 54 years. Despite pleas to evacuate, Harry refused. His body was never found. A 30-year-old seismologist, David Johnston also died in the eruption. His warnings earlier led to evacuations and saving many lives. As the eruption started, he radioed out, "This is it!" The surge of extreme heat that sped away at more than 300 mph vaporized people and animals instantly.
I first visited Mount St. Helens in 1990, almost exactly ten years after the eruption. The scenes of devastation even then were mind boggling, as they have been for every visit since. The land owned by timber companies was re-planted right away and now is healthy forest. Public land was left as it was and will long be a reminder to the awesome power of nature.
Once beautiful Spirit Lake is half covered by trees blown off the mountainside. The lake level was raised by around 200 feet by debris, although it was not as deep.
I'm going to fast-forward now to a 2013 visit to show the comparison in vegetation and the formation of lava domes within the original crater.
Debris still covers much of Spirit Lake.
Donald and Natalie Parker, along with nephew Rick, were on the mountain that day. They, too, were vaporized along with most of their 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix.
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