Mount St. Helens Archive
@mountsthelens1980.bsky.social
Ex-SciComms guy Chris here, chronicling Mount St. Helens' history: the mountain before 1980, its eruptive fury, and nature's stunning comeback. Links/email: https://linktr.ee/mountsthelensarchive
August 3, 1980 | A Day in the Field USGS geologist Sharon Diehl documents colleague Harry Glicken’s fieldwork as they both traverse the debris avalanche east of Camp Baker. Whether dwarfed atop a hummock or digging a trench in the mud, she captures the gritty realities of in-the-field geology work.
I'm sorry in advance, but I'd like your attention for an admittedly selfish moment. Earlier this week, the battle my very good friend Michael Naccarelli had waged against cancer came to an end. A beautiful soul, a brilliant diamond of a man who will be so greatly missed by his friends and family.
Incredible strength shown by Pirates fan Michael Naccarelli before Friday's game
Michael Naccarelli looked to his left and right on Friday afternoon and took in the sights, observing the Pirates taking batting practice at PNC Park and soaking up the moment with his wife, Elizabeth...
mlb.com
I'm sorry in advance, but I'd like your attention for an admittedly selfish moment. Earlier this week, the battle my very good friend Michael Naccarelli had waged against cancer came to an end. A beautiful soul, a brilliant diamond of a man who will be so greatly missed by his friends and family.
Incredible strength shown by Pirates fan Michael Naccarelli before Friday's game
Michael Naccarelli looked to his left and right on Friday afternoon and took in the sights, observing the Pirates taking batting practice at PNC Park and soaking up the moment with his wife, Elizabeth...
mlb.com
August 3, 1980 | A Day in the Field USGS geologist Sharon Diehl documents colleague Harry Glicken’s fieldwork as they both traverse the debris avalanche east of Camp Baker. Whether dwarfed atop a hummock or digging a trench in the mud, she captures the gritty realities of in-the-field geology work.
One of my favorite things I noticed while driving around the mountain: the trees and steep slopes in the background of this picture. Never not an enjoyable moment driving through this part of Kid Valley/Maple Flat. Scene out of a movie.
Mount St. Helens Archive@mountsthelens1980.bsky.social · 2d agoToday, many years since the roadblock was removed, drivers speed back up to 55 mph as they whisk past towering trees and the former WSDOT shed site. A few hundred yards behind me sits North Fork Survivors, where owner Joe Bongiovanni and his family help to preserve the human story of the eruption.
Here's a new series called "Places in Time," an homage to the film "This Place in Time," screened in the 80s at Forest Service St. Helens visitor centers. Let's head to Kid Valley and Highway 504 to the former post-May 18 Red Zone roadblock. Adventurous visitors risked fines driving past this sign.
Here's a new series called "Places in Time," an homage to the film "This Place in Time," screened in the 80s at Forest Service St. Helens visitor centers. Let's head to Kid Valley and Highway 504 to the former post-May 18 Red Zone roadblock. Adventurous visitors risked fines driving past this sign.
One outcome of this trip — I need a space for longer-form content. Welcome the Mount St. Helens Archive Medium spot blog place thing whatever.
A Brief Hello…
This project all started back in the spring of 2020, when I was holed up in a small apartment as the world teetered on the edge. Trying to…
medium.com
One outcome of this trip — I need a space for longer-form content. Welcome the Mount St. Helens Archive Medium spot blog place thing whatever.
A Brief Hello…
This project all started back in the spring of 2020, when I was holed up in a small apartment as the world teetered on the edge. Trying to…
medium.com
I had no clue two great American icons once met.
From yesterday up near Spud Mountain.
Still thinking about this stoat down at Spirit Lake. Now you're thinking about it, too.
Still thinking about this stoat down at Spirit Lake. Now you're thinking about it, too.
Returning to reality after this past week.
Accredited Yacht Rocker and Portland native Dave Raynor used to visit Spirit Lake before the eruption. He and I actually chatted about this months ago on my page, but he's commented again! @mountsthelens1980.bsky.social / @yachtrockpodcast.bsky.social crossover special, @hollywoodsteve.bsky.social?
Enjoyed the pianist at PDX playing a lovely rendition of "High and Dry" by Radiohead. Cool, thanks guys; one last "hey, aren't we boss?" moment to stick with me. Home's going to be worth it, though. Good things all around.
From the shores of Spirit Lake, my first-ever visit there, this trip to the Mount St. Helens area has drawn to a close. There were just too many special moments to mention, but I hope to share so many wonderful photos and videos from the last few days with all of you ASAP! Thank you, PNW! — Chris
Is this mountain out? Oh, yes. Quite. Is that *other* mountain out? Nope.
From yesterday up near Spud Mountain.
Flew out to PDX today for an in-law family vacation. I initially had a middle seat but the prospect of a 4.5 hour flight stuck in the middle was not appealing. Inspired by @mountsthelens1980.bsky.social I paid for a north facing window seat so I would get this on descent. Worth every penny.
I cannot tell you enough how important to me this visit has been. Though I’m a bit quiet at the moment, it is all for good. Emotionally powerful. Healing, reaffirming. ❤️
I think the word here is "cathartic." Eruptions heads into hiatus ... and my musings on where we are in science communication, education, research and life: eruptions.site/2026/07/23/t...
The Volcano Show is on Hiatus for Retooling
So, as most of you know, it has been a rough few years in the realm of science, education and journalism. I won’t get into the big picture issues individually, but they are the backdrop for t…
eruptions.site
"Look at that! You'll never see anything more beautiful in the whole goddamn world than that old mountain." — Harry Truman to his niece Shirley, summer of 1948. I have to agree, Harry. I have to agree.
July 22, 1980 | Eruption #4 John North filed this report for ABC News the next day: three towering plumes, the June dome destroyed, a light dusting of ash on Yakima—as if they needed any more. Ten miles out, gear at Camp Baker showed signs of a hasty retreat. Mount St. Helens is still in business.
July 22, 1980. A cow grazes on a quiet pasture while an eruption column builds over the horizon. Ignorance is bliss.
July 22, 1980 | Eruption #4 John North filed this report for ABC News the next day: three towering plumes, the June dome destroyed, a light dusting of ash on Yakima—as if they needed any more. Ten miles out, gear at Camp Baker showed signs of a hasty retreat. Mount St. Helens is still in business.
I just watched about 10 hours of archived KATU video and film of the mountain in 1980 I’ve never seen before in about six hours. H y p e r f o c u s. Thanks, OHS!