On Friday we drove 108 miles from Poulsbo to our next stop in Kelso, the launching point for touring Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument .  

Interesting Facts about Mt. St. Helens from the U.S. Geological Survey:

  • March 20, 1980—A magnitude 4.2 earthquake signaled the reawakening of the volcano after 123 years.
  • Spring 1980—Rising magma pushed the volcano’s north flank outward 5 feet per day.
  • Morning of May 18, 1980— The largest terrestrial landslide in recorded history reduced the summit by 1,300 feet and triggered a lateral blast.
  • Within 3 minutes, the lateral blast, traveling at more than 300 miles per hour, blew down and scorched 230 square miles of forest.
  • Within 15 minutes, a vertical plume of volcanic ash rose over 80,000 feet.
  • Afternoon of May 18, 1980—The dense ash cloud turned daylight into darkness in eastern Washington, causing streetlights to turn on in Yakima and Ritzville.
  • The volcanic ash cloud drifted east across the United States in 3 days and encircled Earth in 15 days.
  • 14—Lahars (volcanic mudflows) filled rivers with rocks, sand, and mud, damaging 27 bridges and 200 homes and forcing 31 ships to remain in ports upstream.
  • 15—The May 18, 1980 eruption was the most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history.
  • 16—Small plants and trees beneath winter snow, and roots protected by soil, survived the May 18, 1980 eruption and now thrive.

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Coldwater Lake, one of four lakes created by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens

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A short hike on the trail by the visitor’s center

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It was HOT today.  We took jackets thinking it would be cooler up near Mt. Saint Helens, but it was hot there too!

Trip Statistics

  • We drove 108 miles from Poulsbo to Kelso.  Trip total is 4,063 miles
  • Miles driven in CRV 215; Touring total is 1,514miles
  • We stayed at the Brookhollow RV  for $51.56 for per night.  Total campground cost is $1,289.15 or an average of $37.92 per night
  • Groceries and eating out total $815.16 or an average of $26.30 per day