I visited Mt. St. Helens last weekend, just before the 33rd anniversary of its eruption on May 18.
It was the first time I'd visited in 10 years. The trail from the Johnston Ridge Observatory lead to an amazing viewpoint of St. Helens and Rainier, which I'd never seen before. If you're looking for a remarkable view on an easy hike, that's a great one to do. There is still snow on the trail and the valley views below get treacherous as you turn the corner to view the cliffside, but the amazing photos I captured were worth sacrificing my nerves.
From the observatory trail, it feels like you can reach out and touch the mountain. The vast brownness of the area reminds us that much work must still be done to restore the area, which is likely irreparable in this lifetime.
Where were you when Mt. St. Helens blew her top? What do you remember of that fateful day?
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