Mount Saint Helens

I’ve lived in Washington fourteen years, and I still haven’t been. Driven past it plenty of times, though.

The power of the eruption, and the struggles for life to bounce back are on clear display.

I cannot even begin to describe about how seeing this mountain and working with the USGS changed me.Long drive up a windy and very rainy trail,but well worth it,even it this time of the year.Only you have to work with the CVO to be able to get through some of the closed road barriers,ahh the perks of the job:-)
Even though my trip was cut short,Washington is truly beautiful and I felt at home there.I will be returning to Washington, to live in and work in March and only then will I feel at home.

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The volcanocam just went high def!
Check out what you’re missing here

When we went it was smoking! So pretty but be prepared for large tour groups and a very long drive.

My son and I recently took a road trip up to see this mountain, my son’s favorite volcano, before we move away from the west coast. It was well worth the trip! It’s a gorgeous mountain, and we got to see some other great things on the trip, too. We were able to take the road from Castle Rock all the way up to Coldwater visitor’s center; and the southern road nearly up to Lava Canyon (some of the roads were still closed, presumably from lingering winter weather). But we got to see her from several angles, and learn lots about the geology of the area.

While travelling through Washington I felt like this was a place I had to see in my lifetime. My advice is prepare yourself for how far of a drive it is off the highway. We got to the first building thinking we were there. Turns out the mountain is about another 40 something miles through windy roads. It was late in the afternoon when we went so we didnt get to go all the way but we went most of the way and it was still worth the drive!

When I visited Mt. St. Helens a few years ago the trails nearest to the volcano were closed (it is an active volcano). My friends and I decided to hike around a lake, and the path was extremely overgrown which made me regret that I had worn shorts. I looked like someone had beaten me with branches! And the hike was about 10 miles long. Anyway the scenery was pretty amazing and it was literally off the beaten path! We felt like we were the only ones around for miles, which was probably true.

I suggest that NO ONE go to Mount St. Helens…...I would like to keep this gem for myself. From back country snowboarding to mountain biking to kayaking to camping to motorcycles to snowmobiles…..yeah, this place sucks, stay away…...