Most people see Mt. St. Helens from the west. That is because the easiest access to the mountain is from Interstate 5 and then 51 miles along Highway 504, also known as Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. Since the eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980 the area has started to recover, but you can still see areas of devastation and desolation, especially near the peak. At end of the road is the Johnston Ridge Observatory named after the researcher who was manning a research site on that site when Mt. St. Helens erupted. His call, "Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!" alerted the team that their forecasted eminent eruption had started. He died at his post. The center is full of historical information, interpretive programs and offers a great up close view of the dome inside the crater. Inside the Observatory is a theater where an awesome video is shown that makes you feel like you went through the eruption at ground zero.
One of the earliest sites as you head toward the Observatory along Spirit Highway
From the Elk Rock Point viewing area. Below the Point you see the Toutle River Valley which was devastated by the eruption. You can actually see from this site how the side of the mountain simply slid down and thus releasing the pent up gasses from inside.
Before the 1980 eruption, the road to the entrance of Mt. St. Helens National Monumentwas along the river. That road was completely destroyed and a new road was built up along the mountain ridges above the damaged forest.
There were several small lakes that were created when the debris from the eruption created a dam on smaller streams and creeks. There are now open for recreational use, but no lodges or other big fixed structures have been built.
I believe this is from the Loowit Viewpoint.
I wanted Mt. Adams in this composition but even my 20mm would not get me there. I am not as good as Tom with a fish eye lens. Time to seriously try a pano!! Yikes!
I did it!! See Mt. Adams? I think I should have used the telephoto lens for this pano. Learning experience!
Taken from the Observatory. There is a glacier at the top that now has grown to encircle the dome. It moves at a variably speed from just inches a day to several feet a day.
If you look very carefully you can see another waterfall. This is not the Loowit Waterfall.
Mt. Adams can be seen just peeking over the horizon.
Taken from the Loowit Viewpoint area. There are lots of downed trees around the viewpoint.
Tom took off on a trail leading away from Loowit Viewpoint to get this photo.
Desolate! That is not steam but rather fine dust that is being blown off the ridge.
When the video showing the events of the eruption is complete the curtain rises and this is the view you see out a very large window.
There are three roads that you can take to photograph this awesome mountain. The one on the east uses Forest Roads 99 and 25 to get you to the Windy Ridge Road. That route is usually blocked in the winter. The western entrance, described above, may also be closed at the upper levels by snow in winter but it is generally open longer and is more accessible. The third road is accessible close to Cougar and it is closed almost all winter. We found that cell phone service was non-existent on all of them. There are no stores, restaurants or gas stations along the routes. The roads are not connected and require significant travel between the three so if yu plan on visiting all three plan on taking three full days. It will be worth it.