Woodland WA, Mt. St. Helens and Coldwater Lake

Felicia, Jeff, Mike and I headed up to Mt. St. Helens a couple of days ago hoping for a clear view.  Not easy as it almost always has some cloud cover.  It was well into the afternoon when we arrived at Johnston Visitor Center, the viewing area, and we believe we were very fortunate with the view we had!

I took all pics that day on Jeff's camera because my Kodak camera stopped working that morning, yep, just stopped working.  I'd had it 3 years and had sent it in last year for repair for the same problem.  I thought I was going to have to dish out an unexpected several hundred for a new camera but before doing that would take it back to Costco and let them know about it to see if there was anything they could do.....they refunded our money!!!!  I was pleasantly stunned!  I love Costco!!!  Just so you know I did talk to the supervisor in the returns area and he did take it to the store manager for the decision.  I now have a new Nikon P510 which, unfortunately, I had to buy elsewhere because although Costco carries them, they are backordered!

Back to Friday, we had a busy day! :

first stop of the day, hike at Sediment Dam

we are still not sure but think the dam was build of sediment washed down during the Mt. St. Helens eruption in 1980

now you see Jeff.......

....now do you see Jeff?

this slug is not a banana slug! Hah

getting ready to drive across the bridge into the blast zone....

in the blast zone we stop for another hike at Coldwater Lake.....

hard to believe this land was devastated by the eruption in 1980 isn't it?

very scenic area

Mt. St. Helens in the background....

the wildflowers were incredible!!

we were cover in pollen after this hike

volcanic ash seems to be very good for flowers

the crater

view from Johnston Visitor Center .....very nice!  Imagine though that this entire area used to be forest...

reading stories of the eruption from survivors, very emotional

WOW!