Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Mount St. Helens is in Washington and about 55 miles north of Portland.  May 18th of this year was the 30th anniversary of the mountain blowing its top.  It was 9,677' before and 8,365' after.  It flattened over 230 square miles, mainly on the north side where the mountain side collapsed.

Getting close to the mountain.  This is the North Fork Toutle River.  A pyroclastic flow (hot gas and rock) flowed down this river all the way to The Columbia River, about 40 miles to the west (this is looking east towards the mountain).

Looking west.

This is administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

It was a cool dreary day with the clouds hanging low.  We  did did not realize that we were looking at Mount St. Helens.

Once we got a little closer, we realized - there it is !
   Panorama just as the cloudswere thinning.

Slowly, but surely we could see more.

The best view.  About 15 minutes later the clouds came back and obscured the view.

Looking north.  The mountain is just to the right.

Coldwater lake.  This was created by the volcano.