Another NW Natural Landmark- Mt. St. Helens- July 2011

On the 30th year after the historic eruption of 1981, we visited Mt. St. Helens in Washington. The active volcano has been preserved as a national monument so that nature can continue to do its thing. Although it blew its top off, it still is 8600' with a crater in the center and steady glacial activity raising the mountain everyday. The heavy snowfalls this year mean that the snow melt is about a month behind schedule. Up and up we climbed...

and the views were spectacular.... Mt. Hood to the south...

Mt. Adams in a cloud to the east...

More Mt. Adams across the lava fields...

Wild heather growing in the lava rock...

And check out this video of Tess "glissading" down the mountain slopes. It's a ball and cuts the time of the return trip significantly!