Mount St Helens
In Washington state US just south of the Canadian border resides Mt St Helens .This volcanic peak, no more than 100 miles from Vancouver and Victoria BC has an interesting history.
The most destructive volcanic blast of our times in the US occurred at Mt St Helens on May 18. 1980. I was in new London Connecticut at the time and I could see ashy overcast for 3 days at it was carried east by prevailing winds.
There were several advance warnings since March of that year. Forecast after forecast predicted a dire eruption occurring. There were many rumblings and some partial' collapses resulting in steam and ash eruptions of a minor nature,
As usual though everyone dismisses such warnings. It's always more convenient to ignore and stay in a status quo comfort zone than accept the possibility of real change!
As mid May approached several were warned to evacuate. Harry R, Truman the innkeeper at the highest elevation vowed to "stick it out" Some 50 others also decided to stay. A classic case of the value of a status quo meaning more than life itself! It was a gamble lost!
On May 18:
- The major eruption occurred
- 57 people died including Mr. Truman
- plumes of ash rose more than a mile into the atmosphere
- ash to the depth of at least an inch covered everything
- winds carried the ash east over a swathe of 13 states
- The Cowlitz and other rivers were clogged with ash which resulted in damming, bridge and road outages
- Thousands of trees were felled in a concentric blast zone radiating out for tens of square miles which further dammed up the rivers and took out bridges
- Up to 1 cubic mile of mountain was pulverized to ash or carried away as sediment forever changing the topography of the mountain and landscape for miles around
Those who enjoyed the high mountain trails could enjoy them no more. They were simply gone. In their place was a gaping void in the north face.
There are two changes of note offsetting the fatalistic results;
- The resiliency of regrowth that brought new greenery within 2 years to the devastated area and
- The redirection of interest to enjoying the ash enriched new elevations that formed a new peak equivalent. Flowers and fresh green growth sprang up where there was none before
WA has undergone a similar transformation in the last month. Those who have been addicted to the old measures have seen hem get swallowed up in change. Now it's easier to refocus on the revitalized growth at the new heights.
- our training
- our website development
- our writing exercises
- Utilizing new applications
- and too many others to count
We have to get over personal hang-ups of new favorites and get with the program. I want to see WA get the spirit of smelling the roses again and catch the healing vision of the rebirth afforded us!
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Background of selective interest here!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Recent Comments
26
I live about 120 miles from Mt. St. Helens, in Spanaway, Wa. I was 6 years old when the Mt. Blew and yes I remember it. I remember a huge cloud of ash moving across the sky until all light was completely blocked out. You could not drive in it because the ash clogged the air intake of all of our neighbors car who tried to leave. It was horrible. I remember when it rained over the ash and then it dried, the ash turned into almost concrete. The main reason I remember it is because my grandpa died 3 days before the Mt. blew. We lived in Puyallup at that time. We were without power for weeks. I hope I never have to go through something like that again. I don't mean to sound sad, that is just what I remember from that experience.
Something you didn't mention and most don't realise is that once the volcano blew the earth's internal pressures fell.
The result was that all the lovely hot spring pools in a large radius cooled to a great extent.
Hot pools at Fairmont used to be so hot you couldn't stand in them without socks and gumboots on (with no leaks) After St Helens you could sit in them!
Actually it was pretty disappointing. BUT the pressure is building again and things are heating up, or so I hear. I haven't been back since 2006, but Radium Hot Springs were pretty warm and cosy.
Great article and it brings back memories. This was my senior year in HS and I worked at a gas station and started selling ice scrapers as ash scrapers in Jamestown ND to the tourists as they passed through. The good ole days. Jay
Wow. Lots I never knew. I remember it. Amazing that you ccould see ashy haze in Connecticut. This is a great and inspiring ending. I think what captivates me most is the relatively prompt natural restoration and the beauty of changes from what was so destructive. Thanks
Bob
I remember. I was pregnant and everyone was worried about the ash and what it may do to the baby!!
T
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Great share. Didn't know that.