Today I cheated on my man Rainier with a little lady named Saint Helen.

Mt. St. Helens! 

  Norway Pass + Independence Loop + 

Maybe some other stuff....we aren't exactly sure what trail we were on...

Stats

Roundtrip mi: ...........8? Maybe? 

Elev. gain: According to the WTA only about 600, 

but it was definitely more than that. My guess is about 1,000-1,500. 

Party:  Deb, Shelby, Sheer Cliffs, Blast Zone, Fabulous Mountain Men.

SUMMARY: This hike was truly unique and geologically exciting! Yes. Geology is exciting. It is incredibly humbling to walk in this newborn and continually growing forest/meadow. Normally I don't feel horrible meadow stomping around certain areas.....lets be honest....everyone does it. However....doing it here....in a meadow that has worked so hard to be where it's at; it should be a crime! I watched every step! Something about this area made me feel closer to nature than I have felt in years. I know that sounds cliche.... but I don't know....I guess I just see Mt. Rainier all the time, and its just this institution in my life and the life of all Washingtonians, I take it for granted. The meadows at Mt. Rainier are so thick and lush, because they have had hundreds of years to grow! Everything around Mt. St. Helen's seems so fragile; it is a reminder that what was once an institution can be literally blown away in seconds. And you thought Jersey Shore had "Blow-Outs"

Mt. St. Helen's Blow-Out

Jersey Shore Blow-Out

DJ Pauly D is pretty.....but I think Mt. St. Helen's wins. 

THE TRAIL: The entire hike was exposed....due to all the trees being blown down obviously, so the hike was HOT. Three words to describe this hike: HOT, DIRTY, ASHY. Almost all of the trail was this lose ash/dirt/volcanic rock. My mom and I were switching on and off being the "leader" because the person in the back inevitable, and literally ate dust. It was gross. My mouth felt chalky.

The wild flowers were out, not quite at peak (give it a week or two), but they were lovely all the same. Red and Orange Indian Paintbrush, Foxgloves alllll over the place, Orange and Avalanche Lilies, and many many more! 

The trail went steadily up and up and suddenly we turn the corner, and BAM. There is Spirit Lake. Now... I don't really know what I was thinking.... I guess I was thinking that Spirit Lake was just like any other average medium size mountain-y alpine-y lake. WRONG. When we turned the corner, it literally took my breath away. It was WAY bigger than I anticipated.... The feeling I had was very similar to when I went to the Sistine Chapel; Spirit Lake was bigger and more beautiful and more brilliant and more genius than I ever could have imagined. The whole trip I kept calling it "Nature's Sistine Chapel." 

I remember seeing Spirit Lake as a child, and being BLOWN AWAY (bad pun) by all the tree's that got blown into the water. It is so bizarre to see this sort of floating dead forest.

What do I look like???

Mom and I played this game for a while..."What do the logs look like?"

Shelby's thoughts: North America.

Mom's thoughts: A T-Rex. 

Don't see the T-Rex? Tilt your head to the left. 

Our family has "Jumping Genes!"

Ok, so there were some SKETCHY ass parts of that trail. I was sincerely concerned for my safety. These pictures do it NO justice..... but here they are. 

I wish the picture captured it... but basically that is the wee little trail... and if you look to the left, that is the sheer cliff. And the hill just keeps going down and down and gets steeper and steeper. Seriously seriously scary. I never thought I could give a rock a meaningful hug, but when I felt like I had to hold on for my life, I bet it's the best hug that rock has ever gotten! Speaking of rocks.....

I LOVE Geology. I think rocks are soooo cool. Especially around Mt. St. Helens. Absolutely fascinating! Basalt Columns and Really cool composite stuff. So my poor mother had to sit through me going "Ok, now look at THIS one!!!" and several geology 101 lessons. 

Amazing Basalt Columns!

Ok, so here are the rest of the pics!!!