Mnt St HELEN

I was not sure if I had a reservation at the Eco Park. When I arrived the gate was locked. I parked and walked down to the cafe. One of the staff took time to see if I was in the book. I was not. She said they could always squeeze in a car camper but check in was not until 3. Mt St Helens is not a National Park but a monument in a forest. Since I was just over the hill last night, it is in the same forest as the camp last night. These parks are big. For most of the trip to the monument it is the same familiar tall pines. I stopped by a small lake and noticed the same familiar signs. ..don't leave the path, don't pick move remove or leave anything. The signs were about every 5 foot. I have had a few close calls. Yesterday a driver thought about turning after he passed the turn only to move his car so abruptly that he spun out on the shoulder of the road on my right. Today I was coming to a fork in the road and had the right away with the other driver a yield. I could tell he was not going to stop so I backed off and let him go these are nasty distractions. So when I got to the top of the road, I was struck by the lack of vegetation. Stark rocks. Like the Alps the was an over cast When you read that a volcano has erupted know its a big deal 50+ people lost their lives, miles of trees, animals, fish, birds, etc perished. The ash, which is like glass shards when taken into the lungs would take anything that was breathing. Then the morning mist added to the ash created a form of paving material like cement. So when this happened not only did the mountain/volcano blow up, it also blew out the sides pushing rock, molten mud, and ash over miles, and what went up came down. The camp area that I am staying at was located on the lake and those buildings are now down under 200 ft of mountain and water. The stuff coming down the mtn was moving well over 100 miles an hr and carried fully grown trees, cars, buildings, etc. Many lost are under. This has happened about every 100 years. The blow in the Philippines was 15 times greater than this. This area is not the biggest tourist area but one of my most memorable. The other thing memorable is the Eco Park. This was totally built after May 18, 1980. Mark and Dawn are the owner operators and jack of all trades. They have been married 17 yrs. She came with him when they came to an empty area and have built cabins, cut trails, dug wells, and cook she bakes the pies. There is the oldest 16 youth, Justin who has worked for the family for 3-4 yrs. He goes to school in Toutle, pronounced toolee and is in the 9th grade. His stepfather works for the railway but he stays with his grandparents. When he graduates he will join ROTC go to college and become a helicopter pilot. it's obvious Mark and Justin are very fond of each other. Also in the mix is John who has just been added so Mark can have some time off. John is near 30 but has a young face. He was a cook in Portland but wanted to get back to his country routes. His job is cook, clean, cut grass, do repairs, take folks on trail rides, etc. Dawn has a full time job outside. This is a piece of the world that is almost self contained. Mark is involved in international lumber organizations and was aware of the Thai lumber issues. Global warming happens. It is a cycle. The ecological ban on lumbering to save the spotted owl put thousands out of work. The recession starting here about 20 yrs ago. But the ban did not save the spotted owl. The barn owl from the East came and started mating with the spotted and have created a bark owl. The ecologist are now suggesting the get rid of the barn owl. Mark thinks this is America and black and yellow and white intermingle why not owls. I have come to town for Internet so will post pictures and get moving. Had a nice campfire last night but since it will only be me in camp I suggested they not bother for just myself. On to Portland in the morning.