On this day, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.

[Prairie_Seagull]

3. I was driving down 82nd ave in Portland Or. When St. Hellens blew it's top.

I thought someone had rear ended me then looked ahead and it stunned me. For a sec I could not figure out what happened. It was truly awe inspiring. 82nd runs North, South in Portand and to the north it points straight at MSH. I almost never use the expression 'Awe inspiring' these days because of this.

Me and a friend actually hiked St Hellens in August. 1980 (whispering, it was still off limits) we were young and could not resist. It was a little dangerous, only a little, but magnificent. Truly Magnificent. The devastation was complete right up to the top of the ridge we were on. It was like looking out onto an otherworldly landscape. Only told this story about a thousand times but it is still with me and will be forever.