The eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980 was (at the time) the most catastrophic natural disaster in American history.
Today, it looks something like this...
ScenicBoys: Mount St Helens - Part 1 from scenicboys on Vimeo.
There are 18 volcanoes in the Cascade Range, stretching from Southwest British Columbia, through Washington and Oregon, and into Northern California. Living amongst these giant mountains is truly amazing.
Mount Rainer (the largest volcano in Washington) dominates the Seattle skyline, and is an eminent reminder of the devastation Seattle could suffer when it erupts next.
29 years after the lahar fields of Mount St. Helens have settled, only small shrubs and young trees have taken root. The wildflowers, however, are so abundant that it feels as though you're walking on seas of purple and yellow.
In total we hiked 36 miles across the East flank of the mountain. We began our hike at the Ape Canyon Trailhead and hiked 5.5 miles through old growth forest, past the sub-Alpines, to the banks of Muddy Creek. We could have hiked further, but the flowers and immenseness of the volcano stretched before us was so luring we decided to make camp and spend the night.
Check back next week for the Part 2 of our Mount St. Helens Adventure...
Video link broken?
Garet, love your shoes! Miss you guys...
Posted by: Michael Liang | July 20, 2009 at 08:31 PM
Excellent and inspirational as always.
Posted by: Doug | July 20, 2009 at 11:11 PM
What spectacular landscape. Amazing how after 29 years, still so baron i parts, then great fields of wildflowers. Look forward to next id. Big hike this one thats for sure..Vin
Posted by: Vin | July 21, 2009 at 05:11 AM
I've been missing my weekly fix. Thanks for posting again.
Posted by: Mark | July 21, 2009 at 07:10 AM
It's hard to believe it's been 29 years since Mt. St. Helens erupted. I remember it well growing up in Spokane. It was on a Sunday. I look forward to part II.
Posted by: Mark | July 23, 2009 at 07:56 PM
Will the ScenicBoys be doing Burning Man this year?
Posted by: Bandaloop | July 24, 2009 at 08:29 AM
Dusty, I love seeing you in that hoodie. ;)
Posted by: Michael Liang | July 27, 2009 at 08:36 AM
fun-tabulous!
Posted by: Ricky | August 07, 2009 at 01:21 PM
These photos are amazing! especially, the one with the fire is superb.
Posted by: Kirill | March 28, 2010 at 06:21 AM
I'm old enough to remember the eruption of Mount St. Helens. I was in 8th grade, and it was all over the news. Thank you so much for showing us images of the place 30 years later. Very interesting.
BTW, that picture of Dusty wearing nothin' but his hiking boots and socks... OMG! *thud*
Posted by: Gary | April 10, 2010 at 06:12 AM
Excellent post. It makes me realize the energy of words and pictures. I learn a lot, thank you! Wish you make a further progress in the future.
Posted by: Retro Jordan | May 08, 2010 at 12:34 AM