Dave.Largent Loc: Puyallup, Washington

When Mount Saint Helens blew it's top back in 1980 I watched the ash from my front porch. As a photographer (I was still in photography school at the time) with the National Guard, I was able to fly over the mountain the following Friday in a helicopter. These are some of the shots I got from the chopper. The temperature of the water in the lake was 90 degrees. You can see mud and trees floating on the lake with snow on them even with the water being that warm.
You could see animal tracks running every which way as if they didn't know what way to go now that all the landmarks were removed.

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Snow on the left and steam rising from the lake just to the right.

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Steam rising from the lake.

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MT native Loc: Big Sky Country — Montana

Remarkable images. I remember that day in Montana as ash was “snowing” in the city.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Super set.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

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fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

These are great. I especially appreciate the two with the downed trees. What an amazing experience to have had.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Wow! Incredible photos. I was there about 10 years ago. The devastation was still clearly visible but the amazing thing to me was the obvious recovery that the forest was making. And animals everywhere.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Interesting!

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Thanks for sharing those images. It was one of the largest blasts to have ever occurred in North American history or at least in memory....the forests reduced to tooth pick literally.

OneShot1 Loc: Wichita, KS, USA

Great shots!

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Cool post, thanks for sharing!

Irvingite Charles Loc: Irving, Tx

woodweasel Loc: bellingham Wa

I lived in Portland Oregon at the time.👍

jpgto Loc: North East Tennessee

Outstanding photos.

Dave.Largent Loc: Puyallup, Washington

Thanks everyone for the comments. It was a great opportunity to see it and be able to photograph. I have been back a few times over the years since and at times am shocked at how it has recovered and other times it seems to be very gradual in changing.