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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Mount Saint Helens


As I flew over the top of Mount Saint Helens (8,365 feet) today, I marveled at how often I get to do this.....it's "my office window." This is a live shot captured from the webcam. And, of course, it used to look like this before May 1980 when it was at 9,677 feet:


And I know you've all seen the blast shots. But in the fall of 2004, it started rumbling again....we actually were able to see it from our bedroom window that particular day....talk about the right time and place. From up close, it looked something like this:
There is a new dome forming inside of the old crater...it's amazing to see. And it's still growing. In fact, it's one of the world's largest actively growing glaciers. We occasionally take a picnic lunch up there in the summertime. It's about 1 1/2 hour drive, 90 miles as the crow flies, and clearly visible from our city. If you haven't been here, you really should put this place on your list of have-tos. There are plenty of people hiking it each year -- I've even been invited (yeah, right).

Volcano Review 2008

Glacier Caves

Here are a few of my own shots:






And here's one I shot with Mount Adams (12,276 feet) in the background.

17 comments:

Ur-spo said...

....we actually were able to see it from our bedroom window that particular day....

volcanos are fascinating but not from one's bedroom window.

I wonder what it is like living next to something that can go off at any minute. But so could many of my relatives.

Anonymous said...

Wow, beautiful. I used to have a Grandma that lived near there, unfortunately I never got to go out there to see it. Some day, hopefully!!!!! :) When it exploded, I remember my parents telling me that they found some particles all the way across the USA, even in my home state of Pennsylvania. Mother Nature is amazing!!! :)

Grego

RAD said...

Nice peaks man....Lucky we live in the Pacific NW...Nice view from your office window indeed!

Iron Fist said...

These are fantastic, Lewis. It's a great part of the world we live in.

Laurie said...

I remember watching the news and
that being on. The only thing that
bothered me was that there were
animals close by. I don't remember
much else.

HUGS!!

Anonymous said...

I remember it like it were yesterday. May 18th was a Sunday, I think. My sister said it work her up - me? Not so much.

I think my mom still has the coffee table book of pictures.

Wayne said...

We drove out to see it a few years after it blew. Seeing pictures of it is nothing like seeing it in person. What an experience!

tornwordo said...

One day I'll get there. I'll never forget being glued to the tv all that day.

Lemuel said...

Friends of ours lived in Lacey when she blew her top. We were concerned about them, but they were in no danger I guess. They now live on some small island near Seattle, I think.

Anonymous said...

My goodness! What a beautiful sight! And yet... nature can turn on a dime on us! I lived in San Jose in 1980 when she first blew... and we had ashes that far south! WHEW!
Just got a beautiful long distance shot of her a couple weeks ago from our Portland hotel room.
Great pics. Lewis!

travelling, but not in love said...

Wow. Spectacular. The Pacific NW looks like it has so much to offer - I'll get out there one day....

You're lucky to live somewhere so beautiful, and to have these views from your 'office'...!

dit said...

What beautiful images Lewis.

My step-father was actually near Mt. Saint Helens when she blew, back in the day. The ash ate away all the paint on his truck. Crazy, no?

What an amazing job you have. To be able to see such beauty.

K-A said...

It's very beautiful. What a wonderful thing to see in the distance from where you live and from your "office".

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos that you have captured. I can recall when Mount St. Helens erupted and the ash rose so high inti the air that the ash was carried for thousands of miles ti Illinois and landed on the asphalt driveway, where the ash was highly visible. Thanks Lewis!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the photos, that is. Not to sound sarcastic like I was thanking you for the ash. ;-)

WAT said...

Love this post on Helens. Sorry for wishing doom on the folk near the volcano, but part of me wishes it'd go off again.

Shhh...

sageweb said...

I grew up in Centralia Wa. We had a view of the lady when she would push her steam out...it was so fascinating. Then in 1980 we all got out of school early that year cuz of all the ash.