In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Mount St. Helens Day Today
Horse Plains Drifter
Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,037 ***** Forums Admin
May 18, 1980. I remember it well. 57 people lost their lives in that eruption. About 10 years ago I met a fella that lost a brother in the eruption. Eventually the guy's pickup was found, but never any sign of him.
This picture was taken by my wife from her parent's back deck. She was only 13 at the time, but this is most likely a picture of the second eruption a week later.
Comments
I remember it was more like a move than real life terrible event
I remember the old fellow who refused to leave his home said he was staying put
and well not sure if they ever found him
I remember the ash cloud and the devastation of the surrounding forest and towns
I remember it real well! I flew my Cessna 140 down there that day and got some great pics.
Coincidentally, about 7,000,000 cubic feet of ash and other debris cascaded down in a landslide yesterday, taking out the bridge to the viewing area. They had to evacuate 12 people from the view site by helicopter. It was not a volcanic-caused landslide directly, but actually due to heavy snowmelt acting on the loose debris.
The accompanying earthquake cracked the foundation of the house I grew up in. I had some ash bagged up from it for several decades. No idea what happened to that though.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
A buddy and I got a soda and a candy bar and sat on the roof of the house watching in amazement.
We have had two quakes here in NorCal in the past week. Sure hope Mount Lassen and Mount Shasta aren't feeling frisky.
There's a great YouTube site called Geology Hub. The guy tracks earthquakes, volcanoes, and other geology-related stories as a scientist, not a Chicken Little screamer. He gives weekly updates and daily vids depending on what's happening. That's where I found out about the landslide I posted above. He debunks the fear-mongering clowns who claim Yellowstone is about to go off, for example. Watch him, you'll learn a lot.
Harry Truman was the name of the stubborn codger who stayed put. May he rest in peace--it was his decision.
The thing about "unimaginable destruction" is that you can't imagine it happening to you.
It is a truism that applies to hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes.
I vividly remember the happy-go-lucky group that announced they were going to party through Hurricane Camille. And afterwards, there was nothing found but the foundation of their house.
I was in Virginia City, Nevada. I remember that day.
I remember a story relayed by Grandma, and how one of her old friends was in Missoula, shopping (no doubt The Bon Marche'), when the ash hit this area. She was wearing a black dress, and kept brushing off her shoulders, thinking it was dandruff.
Damn, Merlin, you flew a Cessna there and got great pics of the eruption. That is fantastic! You were in the right place at the right time.
Yes I was. Flew down numerous times later on and got great pics of the crater and the dome that was growing at the bottom.