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Still thinking about this stoat down at Spirit Lake. Now you're thinking about it, too.

Returning to reality after this past week.

Accredited Yacht Rocker and Portland native Dave Raynor used to visit Spirit Lake before the eruption. He and I actually chatted about this months ago on my page, but he's commented again! @mountsthelens1980.bsky.social / @yachtrockpodcast.bsky.social crossover special, @hollywoodsteve.bsky.social?

Enjoyed the pianist at PDX playing a lovely rendition of "High and Dry" by Radiohead. Cool, thanks guys; one last "hey, aren't we boss?" moment to stick with me. Home's going to be worth it, though. Good things all around.

From the shores of Spirit Lake, my first-ever visit there, this trip to the Mount St. Helens area has drawn to a close. There were just too many special moments to mention, but I hope to share so many wonderful photos and videos from the last few days with all of you ASAP! Thank you, PNW! — Chris

Is this mountain out? Oh, yes. Quite. Is that *other* mountain out? Nope.

From yesterday up near Spud Mountain.

I cannot tell you enough how important to me this visit has been. Though I’m a bit quiet at the moment, it is all for good. Emotionally powerful. Healing, reaffirming. ❤️

"Look at that! You'll never see anything more beautiful in the whole goddamn world than that old mountain." — Harry Truman to his niece Shirley, summer of 1948. I have to agree, Harry. I have to agree.

It’s not all about the mountain, though. #RCTID

July 22, 1980 | Eruption #4 John North filed this report for ABC News the next day: three towering plumes, the June dome destroyed, a light dusting of ash on Yakima—as if they needed any more. Ten miles out, gear at Camp Baker showed signs of a hasty retreat. Mount St. Helens is still in business.

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Meanwhile, at @powells.bsky.social, you can get these books on Mount St. Helens!

I just watched about 10 hours of archived KATU video and film of the mountain in 1980 I’ve never seen before in about six hours. H y p e r f o c u s. Thanks, OHS!

I am here on an eruptionversary. Come on.

July 22, 1980 | 5:14 p.m. After 39 days of quiet, Mount St. Helens resets the clock. At 5:14 p.m., a beige-gray column of ash climbs into the sky. It's the first eruption visible to most observers since May 18. Two more pulses follow at 6:25 and 7:01. At peak, ash tops 59,000 feet. It's a big show.

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July 21, 1980 Mount St. Helens is quiet. The lava dome hasn’t grown in weeks—just wisps of steam and a scatter of small quakes. Life carries on in the shadow of the volcano. Scientists know this fragile peace could end at any time. Like, say, perhaps tomorrow?

Our mountain is hidden behind smoke, but two buddies welcomed me in. Hello, Portland! Hello, PNW!

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Welp, this is my lot in life, I guess. I'm bound to visit the mountain only in wildfire season. Extremely bummed out, but I had a bad feeling this was going to happen. Anyway, the trip starts today — I likely won't be doing much posting over the next week as I put stuff together. Cheers. 🫠

July 1981. As steam rose above Mount St. Helens' dome, tourists and dollars were nowhere to be found. WA state projected 2M visitors; Lois Livingston, Cougar store: "That's a big laugh." Lynne Birch, co-owner, Cougar Ceramic & Gift Shop: "We're being completely ignored." (Daily News, 7/23/81, AP)

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1980 | Your Volcanic Hit Parade Eruption ballads. Disaster ditties. Tributes to Harry Truman. So, so many Harry Truman tributes. PNW musicians in the spring and summer of 1980 took their shot at stardom through Mount St. Helens. More: longer.blue/posts/WSYI7h2iJe

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