Memories of Mount St. Helens

by Jim Erickson

"Takes a local and regional perspective in looking back on the mountain's history, the frenzied days surrounding the eruption, and its aftermath." --The Oregonian

In the spring of 1980, Mount St. Helens awoke from a century-long slumber with a series of dramatic changes. Most threatening was a bulge on the side of the snowy peak, pushing steadily outward. Near Spirit Lake, local resident Harry Truman refused to leave his lodge, even as scientists like David Johnston warned about potential destruction. On May 18, the mountain finally blew, enveloping whole communities in ash and smoke. Mudflows destroyed bridges, houses and highways, and fifty-seven people, including Truman and Johnston, lost their lives. Today, the mountain is quiet. Plants and animals have returned and hiking trails have been rebuilt, but the scars remain. Join author and journalist Jim Erickson as he recounts the unforgettable saga of the Mount St. Helens eruption.

Genres: Nonfiction

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2020

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright for what it is. It is essentially a compilation of articles or small passages about the Mount St. Helens explosion. It covers many aspects about it, such as characters involved, the explosion itself, the aftermath, legends about volcanoes, ecology, and so on. It spans a wide range but does not go into much depth, and some parts felt shallow or redundant. I felt like a weak point was the stories of some characters involved, with only a few pages dedicated to a handful of them. But some parts were very interesting to read, such as the story of the legendary Harry Truman, the myth of Pele, and the journal entries of Jimmy Carter, who visited the site and did not publicize his entries until this book. Overall a good overview of the disaster, but it does not go too deep.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Eggers, a University of Puget Sound (UPS) geologist and professor, had noticed that there was a relationship between earth tides and volcanic eruptions at other mountains. In general, remarked Eggers, his research had convinced him that the highest chance of eruptions occurred when tides were at their minimum. When would the next minimum period occur? Checking a computer printout of tide tables, he told me, 'Well, maybe about May 21.' Eggers missed by only three days."

"At one point, the Toutle River, a well-known and productive fishing stream, was so hot from pyroclastic flows of red-hot gas and ash that fish were leaping onto the riverbanks to escape the heat, witnesses reported."

"The Lakes Trail goes to Coldwater Lake, which didn't even exist before the 1980 eruption. The ancient forest that once towered there was blown down, and mud and ash from the volcano dammed up Coldwater Creek, creating the lake."

[Audrey Sauble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never read much about the 1980 eruption, so this was an interesting read, with a series of short essays focusing on different people in the area before, during, and after the eruption.