Sunday morning, May 18, 1980 - NW Pacific

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darkage

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I never forget what happen on Sunday morning, May 18, 1980.

I was resident at near Seattle.

Mt. St. Helen exrupted!!! I woke up at 8:30 am for no reason. Hard time to sleep again... until I gave up then got up.
At 11am, I drove on highway to North Seattle. I saw some very dirty cars/truck. Not know why some cars/truck got dirty gray.. not like off track (mud = brown).

Arrived my girlfriend's place. I told her that I had poor sleeping. No reason to wake up at 8:30am. She knew that I worked 25 hours over time in one night. Anyway, I took nap. After 3pm, my girlfriend's mom called us on TTY. The flash lamp made me woke up then picked phone/TTY. That's time, my girlfriend was not at home.

Her mom asked me, "How is weather in Seattle?" Her mom lives in Spokane, Washington. Over 200 miles distance.

I answer... beautiful blue sky and warm weather in Seattle.
Her mom said.... can't believe!!!
Asked me please go outside to look at south.

I went outside to see.... I saw white cloud at south. Still not understand why she asked me to look at south.

Told her mom.... just white cloud. I asked her why and what wrong?

She told me that her town become darker and lot fall ashes. I did not understand what she talk about....

She asked me please check TV. I turned TV on then I can't believe to see big news from Mt St Helen!!!

I understand why..... some dirty cars/trucks came from South.
 
I recalled the news of St. Helena eruption on TV when I was a kid.
 
That is why I have the avatar right here. I took this picture in October 2004. It was a steam eruption that I have witnessed in real life. It's still active, but not as active as it was in 1980-1986 or 1987 period. It "woke" up in around 2003, I think.
 
WOW!

that years on my boyfriend's born in 1980 he born in March 1980 and also my friend born May 1980.

i never know that story before i was born in 1981
 
Wow, that is very interesting story.

I can't imagine what it would be like living in, a volcano that is erupting, as I used to live in a area in New Zealand that have over 50 volcanoes. (Dormant volcanoes and one is asleep that could be awaken any time.)
 
Oh yes, Mt St Helens. My aunt and uncle were living in Kelso/Longview just 30 miles west and when I went up to Washington for first time (1984) when I was 6 and was so obsessed with geology, rocks, volcanos etc. I was able to see all the widespread damage from the mud flows in the toutle river and all the acres of trees snapped like toothpicks still in same position as they became on that day of the eruption. Between my aunt and uncle, and the St Helens state park I was able to obtain extensive data that I remember to this day. Even got to go through the Ape Caves for those of you privy to that place in the park (old lava tubes that you hike into with flashlights/lanterns.....I was so very scared because of the darkness and being young.
 
I wasn't born during that time, but my mom told me she was in The Dalles that time, and can see the smoke from there.
 
yep i know it did on my birthday i turned 8 when Mount St Helen blew up that day May 18, 1980

it will be 28th annivsary of the eruption tomorrow
 
Yes I remember the eruption. I was 7 then so still a kid back then and was so interested in volcanoes as it is part of Natural Phenomena. I didn't forget all of the details about what happened and that 57 people died on that unforgettable day.

I have thought of getting in the field and work as geologist but realize it is a dangerous job... oh well.. but I finally got to touch Mt. St. Helens in 1998. It was COLD there in August?? LOL. I got few lava pumices and lot of pictures. It was not erupting then. grrr.

I was at work when my sister told me that Mt. St. Helens is back to life again. I was like no way? I ran to tv and watched CNN news. Sure enough it was erupting. I was like WOW. Wish I saw that when I was up there oh well! grrrr..
 
Freaky Cat said:
Yes I remember the eruption. I was 7 then so still a kid back then and was so interested in volcanoes as it is part of Natural Phenomena. I didn't forget all of the details about what happened and that 57 people died on that unforgettable day.

I have thought of getting in the field and work as geologist but realize it is a dangerous job... oh well.. but I finally got to touch Mt. St. Helens in 1998. It was COLD there in August?? LOL. I got few lava pumices and lot of pictures. It was not erupting then. grrr.

I was at work when my sister told me that Mt. St. Helens is back to life again. I was like no way? I ran to tv and watched CNN news. Sure enough it was erupting. I was like WOW. Wish I saw that when I was up there oh well! grrrr..
Click to expand...

Yeah speaking of cold, my mom told me story of when she went tubing near south face of Mt St Helens and crashed bad and thought she broke some vertebrae. She did the tubing in May, but it was like in 1970 i guess. I took home lots of ash when I was younger, then i put it in a balloon and was kicking it around the house and when my mom asked what I was doing, I told her "Im kicking my ash- do you mind?!" :giggle:
 
hohDougRN said:
Yeah speaking of cold, my mom told me story of when she went tubing near south face of Mt St Helens and crashed bad and thought she broke some vertebrae. She did the tubing in May, but it was like in 1970 i guess. I took home lots of ash when I was younger, then i put it in a balloon and was kicking it around the house and when my mom asked what I was doing, I told her "Im kicking my ash- do you mind?!" :giggle:
Click to expand...

Ouch glad to hear your mom is ok from the accident.

hahah! funny! :giggle:
 
I remember watching the news about it and being fascinated with volcancos. My dad told me that Flagstaff was built on a dead volcanco and that made me paranoid about it "waking up". I was 8 when it happened.
 
My dad lives in Spokane and he still have that ashes in couple cans that he saved from 1980..
 
ah figures.. I was only almost 2 when that happened lol I was just a toddler to begin with :)
 
PuyoPiyo said:
I wasn't born during that time, but my mom told me she was in The Dalles that time, and can see the smoke from there.
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Your mom lived in The Dalles, Oregon?

Off Topic:

I won't forget that name of town.

I drove over 35 mph above than highway's speed limited 55. I mean that over 90mph (between 80 and 105mph).

I saw cop look at me but he was on other side. They reported to other cop. I was worry and scared... I wanted slowdown and off from highway's ramp. I saw two cop cars (reckless) into highway. Whoaaa... I can't believe to see reckless cop cars. I think of Burt Reynold.

10 min later, I went back to highway... not see any cop there. Luck, they never find me.
 
sequoias said:
That is why I have the avatar right here. I took this picture in October 2004. It was a steam eruption that I have witnessed in real life. It's still active, but not as active as it was in 1980-1986 or 1987 period. It "woke" up in around 2003, I think.
Click to expand...


Yeah..... During summer (not sure which month of July or Aug 1980), we had good time windsurfing at Lake Washington (middle of between Mercer Island and Renton). I saw big mushroom erupted. That's kind like atom bomb.

I lived in Italy for half year. They have two volcanos at near Naples and Sicily.
 
~SG~ said:
Wow, that is very interesting story.

I can't imagine what it would be like living in, a volcano that is erupting, as I used to live in a area in New Zealand that have over 50 volcanoes. (Dormant volcanoes and one is asleep that could be awaken any time.)
Click to expand...

New Zealand is one most often earthquakes... Probably 10 times per months.
I still want to go there. My brother was there that's where film make.

I lived in Italy for 6 months. Mt Vesuvius and Mt Etna. My nose, mouth and throat were not comfortable.... due to finest ashes from Mt Vesuvius and Mt Etna. That's why my first experience - not comfortable nose, mouth and throat from Mt St Helen.

I was on Oahu, Hawaii. They have many dead volcanos at Oahu. No time for me to go Big Island, Hawaii which is still active.

I was ski staff at Mt Baker Ski and Crystal Ski at near Mt Rainier. Mt Baker and Mt Rainier do not oftem steam at top of mountain. I never see any steam at Mt Baker and Mt Rainiers.
 
yeah, my friends told me the same thing abt the eruption in 1980. he showed me a glass container with ashes from the volcano eruption. i was only 4 years old that time.

theres a big pile of debris on side of I 5 freeway that was caused by lavar (sp) due to melting snow and all that debris rush down the mountain, destroying homes, bridges, etc. anyway, its now covered with vegetation and a few trees. amazing how seeds survive the extreme heat.
 
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