Orionath

On May 17, 1980 Mt. St. Helens erupted, surprising everyone with the magnitude of its destruction -- especially the geologists who had been monitoring its troubled sleep for almost a year. Over 23 years later, I finally made it up to the north side of the mountain to take some pictures. Here, you can plainly see the lava flow from the north side of the crater (wide angle zoom -- about 28mm in SLR terms).





I was really impressed with the magnitude of the volcano and crater. The pictures that I had seen -- and these -- don't really do justice. For some sense of scale, know that I was standing about 5.5 miles away on Johnston Ridge for these photos.

Mount Saint Helens crater and lava dome from Johnston Ridge (5x optical zoom -- or about 200mm telephoto lens).

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mb99usa

Those pics are awesome. Clearly show the devastating power nature can unleash.

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turbodriven

Nice pictures. I was in Ephrata Washington (a 150? or so miles east of the volcano) on that Sunday morning. I not only felt the eruption but saw the ensueing aftermath. As I've described it to other people... a black "rolling" cloud stretching the complete horizon from left to right slowly came over the top of us. Similar to the initial invasion scene in "Independance Day". I'll never forget that day in May ever.

Hercules

Really great pictures... and the black & white just adds to the feeling of desolation. Nice work
And wow turbo.. sounds spooky

Orionath

turbo: That must have surely been an impressive (and scary) sight. Did you know what was happening when you saw it? You felt the earthquake? Could you hear the sound, too? They said it was not very loud, more like thunder...

mb99 & Hercules: Thanks for the props :-)

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turbodriven

The initial eruption was in the morning when I was out doing my chores (I was 9 years old). I would have to say it sounded just like a sonic boom. Initially I thought nothing more of it and went to church like normal. Later, after we returned home from church, we all went out and watched the "cloud" come upon us. Our house was high on the hill overlooking the direction of the town of Ephrata and the approaching "cloud". I remember not being afraid at all... it was no more frightening than watching a distant lightning storm. Then as the "cloud" passed over us everything turned dark as night for about 3 hours. And it starting "snowing" ash. Our gloss black BBQ grill out back had over an inch thick of grey ash on it after everything was done. Anyway... it was very memorable if I can remember the events of that day as clearly as I do. Especially since I was only 9 years old.

31Friction

wonderful pictures!

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Speed_Gibson

was up there two or three years in the nice summer months and thought it was damn impressive. Seeing that huge pile of logs that sits where Harry Truman made his last stand in Spirit Lodge (name/sp?) is a somber scene.

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bernadette

nice pics.

we drove up there oct. 1999. didn't get to hike around tho cuz we had two dogs with us.

still the drive up to the volcano was both beautiful & eery.

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Damnfinn

Thx for the pics. I remember standing in the front yard in Longview, WA and watching the mountain go.
my great-grand father came from Finland in the 1880's, and always wanted to see an eruption. I think the last eruption of Mt. Saint Helens was about 1870 at that time.

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Blahman

I like B&W pics like that... really show definition.

jwoody

Great pictures Orionath, and a great description of the event from turbodriven.

Thoroughly enjoyed by me. Thanks.

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jvwgtr

Wow, those are really great pictures!
I remember following the eruption when I was in grade school.

The whole time I lived in Seattle, I kept looking at Mt Rainier, wondering if/when it was going to blow, too. They say it's just a matter of time! Scary.

Orionath

Thanks for the comments, everybody.

jvwgtr: I admit that living in Portland in the shadow of three major active volcanoes, the thought of "what if..." does cross my mind on occasion. But at least volcanic eruptions are far less frequent than hurricanes -- I guess Nature has her ways of throwing a tantrum anywhere in the world.

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