Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980 at 8:32 am. 1313 feet of the mountain was blown off the north side of the mountain, devastating vegetation and wildlife in the path of a mile-wide avalanche. Fifty-six people were killed.
After the initial eruption, smaller eruptions were felt for many years. Scientist monitoring the mountain were able to greatly improve their monitoring techniques and prediction methods. The information learned from Mount St. Helens is now used worldwide in monitoring active volcanoes.
Mount St. Helens is still an active volcano. The Mountain itself is growing back due to an expanding lava cone in the center of the crater. It has been predicted that Mount St. Helens will reach its pre-eruption size within 40 to 50 years.
If you have the opportunity to visit Mount St. Helens, we recommend going to the Johnstons Ridge Visitor center. The visitor's center shows an excellent film with pre-eruption and post eruption imagery. The center also offers and excellent view of the mountain and some nice trails where you can witness the devastation to trees and also how nature recovers with new growth.
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