Hi
I'm John Williams this time on Accessible Adventures In The Pacific
Northwest it's all about learning
and sightseeing what is it they say sometimes the journey
is the destination well today our journey is to Windy Ridge
and the blast zone on the east side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic
Monument
We're on US Forest Service Road 99 on the way to the blast zone
created by the May 18th 1980 eruption
there are two ways to get to Road 99 through the town of Randall from the
north
and Cougar from the south our first stop on the journey
is Bear Meadow Viewpoint have your camera ready
it's our first glimpse a Mount St. Helens.
It was here that photographer Gary Rosenquist snapped the famous images
capturing the start of the eruption the before narrowly escaping with his life
you'll find inaccessible picnic area
and accessible restrooms
next up a stark reminder of the human toll the mountain took on that fateful
morning
this is Miners Car
interpretive signs tell the story how the Parker family perished in a nearby
Cabin on their mining claim geologists use melted parts have the car to
determine the heat up the eruptions lateral blast cloud
Meta Lake is only a few hundred feet from Miners Car
you can move to the next parking area but I suggest you leave your car parked
and roll through the wetlands over this trail and wooden walkway
to Meta Lake
take advantage of the paved trail all the way to the lake's edge
absorb the view and try to imagine what took place here
only three short decades ago
Meta Lake is an amazing place
small Silver Fir and Mountain Hemlock trees were sheltered by snow banks
that protected them from the explosion and hot gases that race down the
mountain
killing nearly every living thing in its path
the road to Spirit Lake is narrow and winding so please drive with care
there are numerous viewpoint areas to stop and enjoy the view
and learn about the May 18th 1980 eruption
allow yourself at least 30 minutes to stop at Windy Ridge
the end Road 99 is the closest place to view the volcano
and overlook Spirit Lake
visitor information and entertaining interpretive talks are provided most
days during the summer
at sites along Road 99 by Forest Service Rangers and volunteers from the Mount
St. Helens Institute
here along with stories about the effect the eruption
learn of the amazing ways life is returning to the blast zone
and what's expected in the future watch for signs announcing times and locations
of Ranger talks along the way
earlier I told you this video is all about sightseeing
but if you'd like to experience this side of the mountain a little longer
there are accessible camping sites back down the mountain
at iron Creek on Forest Road 25
some areas in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
are fee areas the window of opportunity to view this item
the mountain is rather short due to weather conditions the road to Spirit
Lake is only open a few months of the year
the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website will keep you informed
thanks for watching I'm John Williams and I'll see you soon for another
Accessible Adventures In The Pacific Northwest