DAY FOUR OF WASHINGTON STATE SIDE TRIP

Leaving the Season's Motel in Randle, WA we drove on west and south to Mt. St. Helens, the volcano that had erupted in 1980 destroying plant and tree life and restructuring the river and lake in the valley below.

These first pictures are from our trip to Oregon in 2005.

Since we did not have sun on our trip to Mt. St. Helens last Monday, I had to dig out the 2005 pictures so that you can see the crater and dome that is building inside of it, and so that you can compare the regrowth that is there in 2011.

I was so hoping that we could also compare the rebuilding of the dome inside the rim of the mountain but that was not to be done this trip, unfortunately, because of lack of visibility.

As we approached the top of the ridge where the Johnson Ridge Observatory is located, I began taking pictures of the valley where the river is reforging it's path through the ash and debris left behind after that volcanic explosion.

There are still many hillsides littered with fallen trees that were literally twisted from their roots

or burned by the explosion of hot ash.

Upon reaching the Observatory we met a couple, also full time travelers, who wanted their picture taken together. So we too advantage of their request and had them take ours also.

While looking down upon the valley from the Observatory deck, we could see that they are adding on to the facility. But they did not mention what they are building.

We went inside and listened to a Ranger tell about the process of the explosion with pictures. Very interesting!!

We also sat through their theatre movie which better shows the magnitude of the explosion. But there is nothing like the actual views of the valley that we had from the deck

as well as the view from the upper look-out.

The new growth is much in evidence now, and it is beautiful!!

The guide on the upper-trail said that there are at least 200 elk in the valley below that you could see if you had high powered binoculars. She said that they are slowly fertilizing the valley which helps with the re-growth. She also told us that it has been decided that the regrowth is better if let take it's natural course, rather than man replanting trees. You can see that from these following pictures. Enjoy!!

When leaving the upper look-out we decided to take the direct path clear down to the parking lot. The climb up was easier than the walk down, though.

It was pretty windy up there and the clouds and haze sure made the view less that we had hoped for, but it is still awesome!!

Driving away from the mountain, you could see miles and miles of new growth trees.

As we cross the Columbia River back into Portland OR, it was time to realize that the trip away from "home" was about over. It was very enjoyable as the weather was great and mostly sunny, and only a few sprinkles as we approached the river.

So back to reality and just one day of rest from all of the driving, before returning to work!!

Hope that you have enjoyed it as much as we did!!