Do you remember May 18, 1980? The stories below were submitted by members of our community; if you have stories or photographs about Mount St. Helens before, during, or after the eruption, we'd love to have them.
share your story of May 18, 1980
High school senior slept through early eruption
"For the next month, riding the bus to FVHS down 78th Street gave us a great view of the eruption. The awesomeness and awareness of the loss of life stays with me."
Eruption showed the real meaning of 'hardcore'
Central Washington University students up for a Sunday morning get-together got an eye-popping view of the eruption - and soon found themselves buried in a blizzard of ash.
Blast sparked a lifelong interest in nature
Seven-year-old grew up watching ecosystems recover from the May 18 blast. Now he works in the natural sciences himself.
Small town reporter gets big-time opportunity
Reporter with Skamania County Pioneer rubs elbows with Secret Service agents and media stars when President Jimmy Carter came to view eruption's impact.
Magnitude of blast hits home 30 years later
"My family and I drove up to Johnston Ridge Observatory Saturday for the first time, and we were amazed at the scenery."
Racing against time on the river
The morning of May 18, 1980 found myself and the crew of the USS Rogers (DD876) on our way back from reserve training San Diego CA to her home port in Portland Oregon.
Shore leave offered views of eruption
"When I went back to my ship ten days later, I took a number of the ash filled pens they were selling and handed them out. I will never forget the sight of the size of the ash cloud blowing out of the mountain."
Soldier helped in search efforts
"It was an amazing spectacle to witness."
Sheriff's warning saved dad, kids
"I told the kids to pick up their fish and start back to the car, but they didn't want to quit catching all of the fish. I quickly grabbed their poles and fish from them and told them to start running toward the car. They still did not know really what was going on until they saw the huge plume coming out of the mountain."
Great view, but a stupid idea
"It still amazes me that the airspace was not closed until noon that day. There were at least half a dozen planes flying that morning; none of us should have been up there!"
Missing a Sunday morning scoop
"I called the local radio station to alert them that the mountain was REALLY erupting, only to be told: 'Oh, that is happening often, and people are always calling us.'"
Ash: Good for the soil, not for the lungs
"We thought our lives would never be the same, after we had to live with -- and try not to breathe in -- all of the ash for several days and weeks."
A harrowing homecoming trip
"We arrived at the dock in time that evening to meet my husband, and he was shocked to see the car covered in ash and what I imagine were 'deer-in-the-headlights' expressions on our faces."
share your story of May 18, 1980
33 years later, volcano brings world travelers | By Eric Florip
New Mount St. Helens website launched | By The Columbian
Trust buys land near Mount St. Helens | By Eric Florip
Access to Mount St. Helens to reopen Saturday | By The Columbian
Volcano observatory cancels open house due to budget cuts | By The Columbian
