Unearthing the lost stories of Mount St. Helens | Oregon Field Guide (full episode)

[@brucejr.5833]

The legend of Harry's cave will live on forever and that is truly fitting of the man

[@oregonwanderer]

Either some friends or family, can't remember now, did convince him to come into town and stay. But it was short lived. He took off without telling anyone and went back up there. Honestly, its probably for the best that he died up there. He would have died of a broken heart once everything up there that he loved was gone.

[@bluerazor7049]

@@oregonwanderer Not to mention that his wife passed away a few years before and he buried her there. On that day, he was reunited with his wife once he passed.

[@badmonkey2222]

Right after the eruption it looked like a barron moon-scape where the lodge once stood completely blasted away. When he said "the mountain is part of me and I'm part of the mountain" that statement couldn't have been anymore true as now and forever he'll be part of the mountain and the mountain part of him. I really think he knew he was going to die up there I think he wanted it.

[@joegausch]

I lived in Valley Forge,PA. when she erupted. We had ash laying on the car from that Incredible how far the wind carried the ash.

[@ellenjackson6833]

The ash circled the earth at least once. Some wag created a bumper sticker that read, “Don’t bother visiting Washington. Just wait. Washington will visit you.”

[@joegausch]

That's awesome...

[@AndrewKaiserPhotography]

Wow, this is humbling to watch. Decades on and the mysteries and earth shattering (literally) changes of that event continue to haunt and influence people today. My hats off to the people putting in the hard work and effort to learn and teach us all just a little bit more with every expedition and search.

[@noahhyde8769]

A great documentary, as I remember the coverage of the eruption as a 10-year-old and have always had a fascination with it -- and of learning about those who perished that day, as well. This special tracked almost perfectly with the kinds of details about the victims that I've researched on my own. But...did they find out if that engine was indeed Gerry Martin's vehicle? Is the proverbial jury still out, on that?

[@skateboardingjesus4006]

Even though I'm in Ireland, I remember this vividly on the news as a kid. I've never seen that final picture of the lateral burst hitting coldwater ridge with David Johnston's caravan in the frame before. Made my spine go cold. Looking at the depth of erupted deposits made starkly clear by the Tuttle river cutting right through them, is astonishing. Half a mountain laid out in an expansive thick carpet for miles. Definitely have to visit some day soon. I hope the state encourages someone to build a new lodge at Spirit lake and have it called "Truman Lodge II".

[@three6ohchris]

​@@skateboardingjesus4006 I currently live in Vancouver, Washington, and I feel very lucky that I can see the mountain nearly every day... as long as it's not raining, or there's low clouds, lol. Even though i regularly I take it for granted that I live so close to the mountain and see it on a regular basis, I still find it awe inspiring and absolutely beautiful almost every time I lay eyes upon it. In the summer, I often camp in a campground upon a reservoir that's very close to the mountain (If you pull up Google Earth and look at the mountain, to the direct South, you will see a body of water called "Swift Reservoir. At The far East end of the reservoir, If you zoom in enough you will see a label for "Swift Forest camp," which is the campground that I referenced), and every time that I'm there I regularly think about the mountain and what we would do if it were to erupt again while up there. Thankfully it's to the south but maybe the next time it blows, that's the direction it goes... 🤷‍♂️ Anyway, I've never been to Ireland (I absolutely would love to visit. It looks like such a beautiful place), but I can tell you if you were to visit here you would be blown away at the absolute beauty of the wilderness, the size of the mountains (and the size of the State/Country), the forests, etc... Not sure if you have heard of Mt Hood as well (it's part of the Cascade Mountain Range along with St Helens and Mt Rainier), but you can also see it from Vancouver as well. Anyway, sorry for the novel here. Hopefully you make it out here one day!

[@UnderhillKoufax]

I attended UW Geology classes 15 years later. David Johnston’s old teachers still shed tears when talking about him. He is a geologic hero who served science and the world.

[@revvyhevvy]

That piece of buried 'RV' that may have evidenced Mr Martin's area I recognized as an engine from some diesel bulldozer or similar earthmoving equipment. The part that was visible is the supercharger (a 'Roots' type of engine feature like that found on WWII airplanes), commonly found on a 4 cylinder diesel engine. As an 18 yr old, and a motorhead just out of HS, my job had me employed around big cranes and such which had identical superchargers, or 'blowers' as they are known. Was Mr Martin engaged in such 'road maintenance? A few yrs later, while in college, my part time night shift job crew began hearing reports of the eruption of St Helen's. We were in shock, to say the least. So sad for those lives lost. But this is a fitting tribute to those lost on that fateful day. Very cool that you are able share this search with viewers. Thanks for this excellent post OPB! Idaho viewer.

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

This is great information. Thank you for sharing. Sounds like you really know your engines! Perhaps the RV engine will someday be found.

[@tubatits]

Was just about to type the same about the Roots blower. Decided to check the comments first ;)

[@tubatits]

@@mountainsbeyond6757 Wasnt he in a trailer though or is it the tow vehicles engine that your searching for?

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

@@tubatits from what I could see in photos, it looked like Gerry owned a large RV, one big vehicle rather than a tow trailer. (David Johnston had a trailer at Coldwater 2, which was owned by the USGS I believe and had been a temp field station on other assignments; pieces of that were actually found.) I think Scott and some of the searchers know a lot more about the exact model of RV owned by Gerry Martin than I do. And clearly some folks on this comment section know their engines!! Since Gerry parked at a logging "landing" where he could get the optimal view, there may likely have been a bulldozer or other piece of heavy equipment parked up there, too. So, very likely!

[@tubatits]

@@mountainsbeyond6757 Oh okay, I see. I saw the trailer/truck pic as the narration was speaking about Gerry. all in all though, what a great production. I remember when this happened and still have the the nat geo issue that went over what you have put into film. Being a young canadian kid in southern bc, I remember being confused with the "Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!" radio transcript. Kind of a sad way to discover Washington also had a city of the same name. We actually had a light dusting of ash locally but nowhere near like the mt mazama deposit from 7700 years ago that is still visible.

[@arcar66]

The day St. Helen's erupted, my favorite instructor and preceptor from Stockton State College in NJ was just 20 miles away. Jerry had taken a sabatical in my junior year to drive around the US with his wife in his RV. They were opposite the blast sight (to the south west) so they escaped the blast but saw the tragedy unfold. Two years later, returning from a family visit to Seattle, I saw an amazing view of St. Helens and two other volcanoes on the right side of the airplane. It was awesome...nature is awesome.

[@Xtinnoker]

I lost my classmate Andy Carr to Mt St Helen’s, Him his Brother and Father all died from the blast. I believe we were in 5th grade.

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

that is powerful. I'm sorry for that loss. thank you for sharing their memory.

[@lakeshoreshepherds741]

I’m so sorry- 😢 Super sad.

[@Yosetime]

Oh what a sad thing to have to experience as a child. Thanks for sharing.

[@noahhyde8769]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't even imagine what that must have been like, to those who knew the Carrs. Their loss has bothered me for years and I didn't even know them. Just two kids and their dad, out for a weekend of camping on the mountain and then got caught up in it.

[@SherryJo777]

@Xtinnoker my parents lived in Mrs. Carr's neighborhood - the grandma to your classmate. She was just devastated. My older brother did car work for Mrs. Carr. Mrs. Carr was a sweet woman- so sorry she lost her family that day, so many years ago! 😢❤🌹

[@wrm3016]

My wife and I were up there on a road trip about 5 days before the eruption. Crazy times. Crazy history. Thanks for the video.

[@EphemeralProductions]

Glad you went by far enough ahead of time that you weren’t at risk or affected.

[@kristentindle3075]

I remember where I was any exact moment I spotted the ash cloud on May 18th 1980. Living in spokane. This is a great tribute and well made documentary! Thank you

[@wayupnorth9420]

Yup I was in Hayden in a field and thought we were gonna get a giant snowstorm. Went in the house and found out she blew.

[@christinerussell1132]

Post Falls,Idaho

[@luisamarie9387]

This landscape before the Eruption must have been of unbelievable beauty, as I see on this old photos.

[@diane8937]

It was. Spirit Lake was unbelievably gorgeous. Sooo sad to see it vanish.

[@bradlyscotunes9156]

Nice lake there now; will look really great in another 50-100 yrs., if humans haven't otherwise destroyed the planet entirely..

[@GuantanamoBayBarbie2]

I camped there back around 1970. It was just incredibly beautiful, with pristine waters and lush forests. May 18th, 1980 was a shocking display of power to many of us. But it woke us up to what will happen when Mt. Rainier blows. It'll be so much worse.

[@thisolesignguy2733]

My Great Grandpa was best Friends with Harry Truman. He used to tell me stories of going fishing with him, and they would go mushroom & berry hunting up on St. Helens when my grandpa was a kid so my Great Grandma could make blackberry pie. Harry was my grandpa's first guitar teacher also, Harry was actually trying to teach my Great grandma but she would get so frustrated and put the guitar down. One day my grandpa picked it up and just started playing, so Harry taught him to play and gave him his first steel guitar. I actually have that guitar, my grandpa left it to me when he passed. When I was 10, we went to MT and brought back pictures for my Great Grandpa and also brought a few with us to give to the museum.

[@Ivartshiva]

The steel guitar from Harry is meant to carry on the music of Spirit Lake. I hope someone is playing it for people somewhere

[@MaxPower-bh7zy]

I love blackberry pie with whipped cream almost as much as the mountain itself. Put the two together and I'm having a wonderful day.😊🍪🍪

[@johndeere8866]

I never heard nor read Harry played guitar. Interesting.

[@dwpalme2670]

@@thisolesignguy2733 bullshit

[@GuantanamoBayBarbie2]

Thank you for sharing your family connection and history! ❤

[@ProximaCentauri88]

This is probably the best recent retelling of the events that lead up to the eruption of Mount St. Helens. This is also my first time to see the stunning snow-capped volcano in motion picture before the eruption. Watching from the Philippines.

[@beachbum200009]

You may like this too. Some of the survivors have links to their stories. It is an inertactive map that shows where they were and pics. Yahoo search this..... google map Mount St Helens Eruption Fatalities

[@chadderrington9983]

Thank you for making this video and sparking my memories of the eruption and the aftereffects. I was 10 years old and visiting the Portland Zoo on Sunday the 18th. We took the Zoo Train to the Rose Garden stop, and I saw the mushroom cloud and the ash blowing away to the North and East. When the ash settled in Portland, my friends and I climbed on top of the local Plaid Pantry, scooped ash into my mom's tiny canning jars, took the bus out to the Portland airport to sell the jars of ash (and make a killing) to people flying out of town. We made enough money to buy lunch and pay for the bus fare.

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

that's a fantastic story. thanks for sharing!

[@Yosetime]

That is a very nostalgic story! Isn't it funny how nearly every kid around that age at that time had the same thoughts? Sell the ashes. Make a little money. An adventure worth remembering.

[@Ziggyaig]

I have always wanted to go to where Harry's lodge was and look for artifacts. I have hiked Harry's Ridge and plan on climbing St Helens this year. It is a very special place. RIP to Harry and all of his cats. ❤

[@chadderrington9983]

@@Yosetime We were all little business moguls. I was so desperate for money that I must have done 10,000 different jobs from about 9 till 15.

[@lakeshoreshepherds741]

This is so fascinating to see & remember. I lived in Michigan, and I was 15. And I remember all of our cars and driveways were filled with soot from the Mount Saint Helens explosion. Thank you for this trip back in time. It’s so sad but so interesting.

[@davidrussell8795]

I lived in southwestern ontsrio no soot fell on us near windsor ont!

[@lakeshoreshepherds741]

@@davidrussell8795 It was really fine. Grey colored, not much just a light film of it for a few days. It didn’t snow down on us I did say it wrong. Are driveways were not “filled” with it.

[@michaelstiller6108]

Wow, watching from Australia. I remember watching TV news when I was a child, nowadays the transformation is amazing? From total devastation, loss of life to a green pasture. RIP brave Souls.

[@Stereostupid]

That was absolutely fantastic! I love this lost history, especially on Truman and Johnson, so damn mysterious! What a story ! We need a fantastic 3 hour epic movie about this

[@t.j.bearmendenhall504]

Great video--- Brings back memories. That Sunday morning I was climbing Mt. Hood starting from Timberline Lodge with 3 other close friends. We were about 3/4 of the way up Hood when it blew. The plume was intense and the first thing I thought about was the chance of a small earthquake on Hood and maybe an avalanche where I was at. Decided not to finished the climb to the summit.

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

wow! that's an incredible story. I can only imagine what that was like from the side of Hood. Definitely good call not to risk the avy potential, as that seems totally feasible. thanks for sharing!

[@GRANDMA4PEACE]

Were you on the North Side of Mt Hood? I just wonder if you could actually see Mt St Helens. I was in Portland and could see the plume.

[@t.j.bearmendenhall504]

No---- We went up from Timberline Lodge and that is more on the south west side of Hood. We heard about it at first from other climber's coming down from the summit and the when the plume got bigger we could see it and were amazed at the size of the plume.

[@williamjrodgersjr6648]

Nicely done, brought back a ton of memories!

[@llamalover02]

More Mt. St. Helens, please! The science behind current monitoring efforts and research would be great!

[@ElChupahuahua]

I've walked those same grounds. I have a very personal connection to David. God bless him, and I applaud him for both his bravery and sacrifice. He was a great man. Never forgotten.

[@stalkek]

He comes across as very admirable, and in advising those two researchers to leave as it was decidedly unsafe, I wonder why a more distant observation post wasn’t used. Of course, in terms of observation, the closer the better, but he seems to have felt it was very possibly a death zone if the full eruption transpired. I ask this respectfully.

[@PacificAirwave144]

I was 16. Dad woke me up in the morning saying the volcano was erupting and he had hot soup ready in a thermos. We went up to Mt. Sylvania and everyone there was out in the streets watching it. A huge black ash cloud just boiling up and lightening in it every few seconds... I've seen a number of documentaries over the years but this one really captured the story.

[@MyChannel-ct6gr]

This was a beautiful and endearing production.

[@OregonOldTimer]

I was at work at the airport in Port Angeles WA that morning. We heard and felt a dull thud. I went outside to see what had bumped into the building. When I came back in, the gate agent was hanging up the phone. It was the mountain. One of our airplanes was taking off from Seattle headed south when the mountain blew. He and his passengers had a front-row seat. A few hours later, I was flying one of the 14 airplanes circling the flood crest down the Toutle River. I had a geologist and a couple of reporters aboard. I was too busy watching traffic to see much of what was below, but it's an event I'll never forget.

[@tylerbuckley4661]

Rest in peace Harry Truman and David Johnston and to the others who did not survive MT.St Helen's you are not forgotten

[@mackpines]

Been living in sight of the mountain all my life in Vancouver. I got fascinated with Mt. St. Helens when we learned about it in first grade. Always pictured Harry standing outside his lodge that morning drinking a Coke and watching it erupt. Seconds later, he along with his lodge and cats were completly buried. What a legend. Outstanding documentary.

[@billotto602]

I understand why Harry stayed. I not only agree with him but I respect the hell out of him for that. He's in a better place now. RIP Harry. God bless you sir. 🫡 🇺🇸

[@nostromo7928]

I agree. Your home is your home. He was an elder, a widower, and in love with the mountain. I'm sure part of him understood that the mountain might blow and he was okay with it if it took him too. He'd lived a long life on his terms and he was determined to go out that way. God bless him.

[@SumDumGy]

I feel for his cats though. They didn’t have that choice.

[@billotto602]

@@SumDumGy his cats are with him

[@SumDumGy]

@@billotto602 Exactly. He was responsible for their deaths.

[@dwpalme2670]

@@billotto602 yep right down there in hell

[@randyhavener1851]

Thank you!! May God bless your journeys!!

[@H.O.P.E.1122]

I really liked this documentary. Real stories of real people. I especially value the compassionate approach to Harry Truman and his decision not to leave.

[@beachbum200009]

This tells about all the people that were on the mountain that day. Some of the survivors have links to their stories. It is an inertactive map that shows where they were and pics. Yahoo search this..... google map Mount St Helens Eruption Fatalities

[@tdwayne1]

That was great folks ,thank you for sharing the stories..I was 33yrs old when it happened , but remember it like yesterday..

[@jimprice9251]

I was 10 and was able to watch the eruption from Orchards Wa. Like many a day that i will never forget. The prior eruptions i was able to collect two different kinds of ash on two separate occasions. My dad was in the Coast Guard and we moved to Chincoteague Virginia in 83. This was 7th grade for me and when the classmates found out where i came from they all asked about Mt St Helen's. So my home room teacher allowed me to bring in the ash i had collect and i was able to share my story of Mt St Helen's. This helped me break the ice of joining a new school as i made friends after my story. On another note the documentary is top notch. Like many i have watch and researched so much through out the yrs. This video really hits home because of the search of Jerry and David sites. Would do anything to be apart or be able to experience what you all got to do. So cool and thank you for this documentary! So i have not read through all the replies but that engine looks to be a Detroit diesel. I can tell by the color and the item sticking above the ground looks like a 671 Detroit blower that usual sit in the side if the engine. The photos of the vehicles/rv wouldn't of had the engine. More of a heavy equipment or semi motor/engine.

[@bradlyscotunes9156]

...you are "apart". 'Spel-hek' probably gotcha!

[@MovieViking]

All the other documentaries paint Harry Truman as some kind of drunken lunatic, but congratulations to OPB and those who made this for showing his true nature! He had made his decision knowing full well what could happen and he was not a lunatic, he was at peace with his decision as it could mean the end him being alone in what was supposed to be his and the love of his life's world. I find him awe inspiring!

[@dwpalme2670]

He was an idiot

[@tylerbuckley4661]

@@MovieViking Harry was quite the guy he drank but was never a lunatic he was a cool dude

[@MovieViking]

@@tylerbuckley4661 Though I never met him, everything I have read and seen with or about him from people who knew him I can only agree 100%. And thank you for making my day better!

[@patrickcross1571]

It's just that he became a rallying figure for the actual lunatics/egotist dunces complaining about the evacuation.

[@GrumpyForester]

It is so amazing to watch this, but it makes me feel so old because I was there. There isn't a moment of May 18, 1980, that I will ever forget... and I will always cherish the memories I have of being at Spirit Lake the year before the eruption, because it really was a special gem of a place nestled in the Central Washington Cascades.. I was a young and relatively brand new USFS employee just a couple of years into my career working on the south side of what we then called St. Helens Ranger District on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest when the Mt. St. Helens eruption happened. The initial March 18 top-popping eruption is extremely memorable (sounding like a sonic boom at our office on the south side of the mountain) because it - unbeknownst to us - was signaling the beginning of an incredible once-in-a-lifetime saga that we could have never imagined that we would be living for the next several years following the eruption. There is another story that may or may not ever be told about the years of recovery after May 18, 1980, but 05/18/1980 IS the basis of stories that Grandma and Grandpa tell when asked the question "were you really there?" and Grandma/Grandpa say "yup...and let me tell you a story..."

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

If they ever invent a time machine, I'd love to set it to go back to Spirit Lake pre 1980.

[@GrumpyForester]

@@mountainsbeyond6757 ah, me too. It was such a beautiful place and wonderful recreation area. I was able to go there a few times early in my career before the eruption and - when I reminisce - I really miss it...

[@de362]

I was working in the ER in Longview on May 18. The Injured and burned were brought to us first. It was quite an experience.

[@billclisham8668]

What they thought was the engine from Jerry Martin's RV is a supercharger from a 6-71 Detroit diesel engine, most likely from a piece of heavy logging equipment. or possibly a log hauling semi truck.

[@bigwhoopi6764]

I was thinking the same. No way did an old RV have that big of a motor. Let alone a diesel. Still a really neat find. I'll never forget watching this all unfold. I just turned 7 the day before.

[@garysarratt1]

I couldn’t tell what it was (thanks!), but I knew it wasn’t an IH Scout engine. The same people that called a wheel a tire, called this a possible “engine from the RV”, which was a little travel trailer.

[@Ivartshiva]

@@garysarratt1 Yes I thought the same - both guys pulled trailers, not self-powered RVs like we have today. Look at the photos

[@oregonwanderer]

@@Ivartshiva There WAS an RV parked next to the Scout. It could be possible. They used big engines in RV back then. They used to use 292's in big rigs until everything switched to diesel engines so its a possibilty that diesel engine was in an RV.

[@appaloosa42]

Yes big noisy smoke engines in RV’s

[@bradlywiebe3673]

I lived up in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada at the time, and the winds brought it in a perfect path to our city, 270 miles away. Our entire home and yard were covered with about 3/4 inch of ash. I will never forget that day. Some 30 years later I went on a trip with my family and was able to visit St Helens. It was a beautiful yet somber experience.

[@SeedFiddler-kp4eg]

I lived in Spokane, WA, on May 18,1980. Mt. St. Helens is, I believe, over 300 miles from Spokane. We had gotten home from church and I was working out in the yard when I looked to the SW and saw what appeared to be dark storm clouds approaching. I love storms so I was anxious for these clouds to arrive. A short time later we learned that these were not storm clouds but rather clouds of volcanic ash... never had that happen before - or since. Your video is well put together and I appreciate the personalities that you brought into the story. Thank you for a job really well done!

[@gordonsaye9183]

What a great story. Takes me down memory lane. I was living in Tualatin at the time of the erruption and could just see the top of the mountain from my appartment and watched in awe as the mushroom cloud grew and spread out. I visited the site with my wife a few years later and it still looked like a moonscape but very cool. We moved to Bend, OR in 1989 with our kids and enjoyed the mountains and trails. Green Lakes was one of our favorite trails with the view of Broken Top near the end of how far we would go with small children. Now retired and living in Gulf Shores, AL. we miss the daily view of the mountains. Thanks for the story.

[@joannedyer7206]

Wonderful video. I have a child’s memory of the eruption, too. I still think about Harry. Thank you!

[@stormmountain2521]

All I can say, yes thank you for this video.

[@tomg.4287]

That was informative and touching. Thank you!

[@karenhull2826]

After watching so many heartbreaking posts, it is both an honor and a privilege to watch you beautiful video Thank you for sharing your upload

[@Yosetime]

There was something about the way that Scott was describing his 5 year old self on that day that brought to mind the same experiences that others have described after major events. Like 9/11, the assassination of JFK, the deaths of Elvis, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, hurricane Katrina, the 2011 Japan Tsunami. Things like that. It's fascinating to me to hear stories from this personal perspective long past the events themselves. We are so lucky that we have had the technology to visually record these events as they happened. Like this video. Telling the real and personal stories. Well done little documentary. I do hope Scott has invested in a pair of actual hiking boots over his sneakers! Go Scott!!

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

Ha! This is great post. Thank you for it.

[@takingthebackroadhome]

Enjoyed watching this, most documentaries on Mt. St. Helens gloss over the small details on what happened. Hope to someday visit the area myself. Would interesting to search for artifacts from that day.

[@iAncientOne]

Excellent video. Great info I’ve never seen before.

[@SRQGuitarGuy]

I had never felt closer to my Higher Power then when I was hiking the trails...Beautiful. Thanks for the insights....was the engine ever positively identified as Jerry Martin's?

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

As far as I know, no positive ID. From some of the comments here on KZbin, it might have come from a piece of logging equipment. That’s also viable possibility. More research is needed.

[@JaniceMartin-fd8mr]

I was 30, living in Seattle, on this fateful day. I've watched every documentary on it. This has been the most interesting, with more details of all the human stories. Good job!

[@Worldsamess2024]

Fascinating story! RIP to all the dear souls who lost their lives there. Watching from England UK. 💙🇬🇧💙

[@hollyodii5969]

My parents let me go on the roof and watch the eruption! My dad and I watched it for quite a while! Me and the neighborhood kids in Portland would play with the soft ashes that would build up along the curbs of the street.

[@lakeshoreshepherds741]

You got to watch that!!! ?? Omg how insanely cool! ❤❤❤ Cool dad too!

[@Yosetime]

Us 'free roaming' kids of the 80's. It's surprising how many of us survived. lol

[@jessicajae7777]

@@Yosetime right lol my brother and I would stand on the backseat cheering while my dad tried to imitate a Yee Haw!(like the show dukes of hazard) and he did get air quite a few times and other than landing on the floor laughing and promising not to tell mom we managed both to reach our 40s so far

[@kattharris1025]

I remember as a kid visiting the lodge and Mt. Before and the aftermath ...now nearly 45 yrs later I would love to see how nature flourish

[@johnathantucker4191]

Fascinating and well done! Thank you everyone who put this together.

[@cynhanrahan4012]

Wow, thank you for making and posting this. I lived in the midwest at the time, and was 21 years old. Prior to the eruption I don't remember there being a Mt. St. Helen. But when it erupted, cable tv was new and common, and we were all glued to the broadcasts. It was horrifying, but your film here gives me a much better sense of scale and time. And horror.

[@pyrodoll2422]

Another absolutely fascinating film, thanks so much to all involved.

[@justcallmesuzzie]

I am in tears with this video. I remember that day so clearly and vividly even to this day. I to, was worried about Harry as I was 18 at the time and realizing the impact it was all the way in south Texas as I saw the dust on all the cars in the driveway. Making that connection that the eruption was THAT HUGE.

[@GaryEllington-dy8li]

This is the first time I've ever heard about any caves! 😊

[@coreym162]

There's a lot of things the documentaries don't tell. Like only 4 of the 57 victims died in the Red Zone. The rest died some distance away from any restricted areas. They were told where they were was safe. There was also no "Warning Quake" either. Just 1 of thousands of 5.0 quakes going on for a little over a month and a half. David Johnston was also not in the Red Zone when he died. He straddled the border. I think he thought he was relatively safe there to where he might have thought he could make a quick escape even though he knew Coldwater II was a danger zone. He probably didn't account for the flow and blast overtaking all of the ridges and valleys in between. Harry's legacy was dragged in the dirt too for everyone thinking he was dumb and underestimated an eruption. I wish a documentary would cover all of the stuff the other documentaries won't. You'd also be shocked at how many people connected to the eruption are in the comments in all the videos too.

[@prarieborn6458]

Me too, and I have watched a lot of documentry programs and stories about Harry Truman and Spirit Lake Lodge In the ‘90’s we drove up to the Volcano observatory and visitor center, and i recall the sight of what remained of Spirit lake,filled with floating logs and surrounded with devastation. . . In 1980 we did not have the internet but there was a spooky story circulating around Seattle and Puget Sound. Several people had reported that they picked up a beautiful lady dressed in a white gown- hitch hiking on lonely country roads at night. She would get in the back seat and tell the driver that Mt St Helens was going to erupt soon and there would be a great loss of life. The driver would be watching her in the rear view mirror but when they looked back to ask a question, the Lady had vanished. After the eruption, some of the local Native American people said that the Lady had been Pelee, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, and it was well known in the Islands that she would appear to warn of pending eruptions. One person who should get a lot of credit for saving lives is the WA State Governor Dixie Lee Ray. she declared a “red zone”, mandated evacuations and made it stick The local folks who were forced to leave and could only go back for a few hours to get their posessions, were very angry with our Governor before the eruption. She was under a lot of pressure to lift the restricions., especially as days went by with no eruption it was a good thing she stuck to her guns, . i don’t think most peple realized just how massive the eruption could be.. We live in a rural area well north of Seattle, and we did not hear the explosion that sunday morning. the sound traveled over us but was heard in many areas far away. and we did not get any ash fall, either. the force of the explosion carried it the sound and ash clear across the country. Today was the 44th Annivwrsary of the disaster. May all those who were lost, doing thier jobs or could not escape. Rest in peace. We will never forget. 🕯️💐

[@foxmanghost1822]

My dad actually lived up there as a logger he witnessed interrupt, and he also did some work clearing some of the debris and some of the damage off the roads that was caused by the explosion

[@ramonalisa8546]

Thank you so much for doing such a great job, this is very important history and remembrance

[@flickrennels]

Interesting , exciting, gorgeous, shocking, sweet, sad, touching documentary. Thank you so much for sharing

[@stevenuhl6675]

Very well done, thank you!

[@deadcarz4926]

Fantastic documentary.

[@weedhopper]

I was 6 yrs old when this happened.i grew up in Portland and my family and I were on Columbia Blvd heading to my grandmother's house as it blew we saw a handful of other vehicles pulled off the side of the road,an open view thru a large field we saw the huge plume of ash billowing up.inwill never forget this day.Thank you for sharing this,always good to revisit our past weather it be good or bad.its how we learn and grow 👍

[@tomwestbrook]

I was 23 and going to college then in Kansas. We got a slight dusting of ash. I remember all the news coverage from the time surrounding the eruption being interested in geology at the time (was studying physics and math). A momentous event in my lifetime. I hope to make it there now that I’ve retired. RIP all who lost their lives that day.

[@sandraweiler5971]

Wonderful video, thank you for sharing.🌸

[@nancyworley6805]

I was 11 in 1980 when Mt St Helens erupted. It was awe inspiring. Thanks for the trip back in time.

[@guitodd]

Crazy how well I remember all of this. I was 8 years old when we watched it blow. I have been obsessed with the mountain ever since. Spend a lot of time up there exploring.

[@vernonfindlay1314]

This video was awesome, right up there with another video i found couple years ago. It ended with a reunion thinking year 2000. I was grade 11 here in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦,this whole story then as now hooks my imagination. Rest in peace Harry and everyone else. God bless.

[@kathleenmulligan8083]

Fantastic video! A few years later I came from California to fight a fire that was a few miles from mt st Helen’s. There were places were we were cutting fire line and the ash was deep. The mt was in view the whole time.We were some of the last crews to leave and we were rewarded with a private tour ,of the aftermath up close .

[@gregbaehring1656]

Thank you for your content.

[@kevinthompson629]

Wow.. That was one of the best documentaries on St Helens I've seen. Really well done

[@Sherrill965]

That poor man...losing his friend. I just want to hug him. I remember that day.

[@davidbrooks1724]

Thanks for the video guys . Enjoy hearing the stories . I’m from Texas but have family up there. I made it the I think 6 months after and lots of pics of ash high up on trees . Houses all alone no the river banks, etc

[@shewolf2584]

I'm old enough to remember her before she blew (used to go play on her in the snow) and my family knew Harry. He used to always go fishing while us kids were swimming. I think it was just so he could help keep an eye on all of us and he liked the company. Harry was stubborn as hell but he was also the sweetest old man! ❤️😊 I was a teenager when she blew and watched it from our front picture window in the living room. Something I will never forget!

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

The is a great story. I’d give anything to be able to see Spirit Lake pre-1980 and meet Harry. Thanks for sharing.

[@shewolf2584]

@@mountainsbeyond6757 You are very welcome. I grew up on Spirit Lake Highway in Castle Rock, Kid Valley and Toutle. We walked, road bikes and horses all over that country side. 🥰

[@davepowell7168]

You know it's going to blow... Condolences to the bereaved and disaffected

[@johnabelljr1997]

Thanks for bringing back fond memories of my childhood. I was fortunate enough to attend YMCA summer camp the year before Mount St Helen's blew. I wish they would reopen the road to Spirit lake.

[@atatterson6992]

Thinking Harry could have made it to a cave within seconds is... well... you know.

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

Totally agree. With what we know now, there’s no way Harry could have survived. But on that day of May 18, no one knew exactly what had happened. As I recall, I5 was even shut down. Reports were coming in, but it wasn’t until much later that everyone realized how massive the destruction was on the north side of town he mountain. I thought the words of the rescue crew were powerful when he said, “I’ve camped here before, doesn’t look like anywhere I’ve ever been.”

[@PotatoHero-d1z]

They are just looking for the cave, yeah doubtful he ever made it to it.

[@californiahiker9616]

Another one of Harry’s entertaining stories. The man was no fool. He knew if the mountain came his way he couldn’t outrun it. He’d lived his life. He pretty much said he wouldn’t be able do deal with the change. He was ready to die. As somebody who is now around the age Harry was in 1980 I can totally understand that! Over the years I saw other documentaries about the Mt St Helens eruption. Some mentioned Harry and others who wouldn’t leave. Many years ago I thought, why take such foolish chances?! Now my point of view has changed. So I think it often depends on your age to be able to understand their decisions.

[@babs629]

I was eleven years old and living in Southern CA when this happened and our swimming pool was full of ash from it! That's how bad it was.

[@daphnekivinen9482]

I lived 5 miles south of Cougar and approximately 12 air miles from Mount St. Helens from 1977 until 1993. We lived behind a roadblock for 6 months. Thank you for a very good documentary of what happened. I lived it working for St. Helens Ranger District.

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

wow. that is direct experience. thank you for sharing!

[@daphnekivinen9482]

@@mountainsbeyond6757 You are welcome! There used to be a very short KZbin video of me made by our local newspaper. Ash, but nothing like eastern WA. Pumice in October 1980 eruption. Didn't have to clean house for 6 months - no visitors. 😅

[@kathleenmulligan8083]

I fought a fire with the forest service around 1984? Cutting line in all the ash was a new experience. Some how I think I t was called the cougar fire but it was a long time ago and I’m not sure. We were given a tour by the local ranger station after the fire, of the aftermath of the explosion.

[@kalicokathy1944]

Thank you for making and sharing this video

[@sandrabeck8788]

I remember this like it was yesterday, I was in Minnesota at the time. So awful. Fascinating. Wow, to be able to see it happen on the news was jaw dropping. Even experts had no idea of the power that was going to be unleashed. Never thought of artifacts!

[@wesmahan4757]

My son was born in a British hospital when it erupted. The British nurses were laughing at this American who went around the hospital trying to find a TV where I could watch the eruption (back in 1980, there were VERY FEW TV sets in British hospitals!!) They told me I had a more important "eruption" to pay attention to. In my defense, it was a looong birth process! When we moved back to Portland, and later when he could afford it, he bought a house on the north side of Mt. Tabor, with a clear view of Mt St Helens through their living room picture windows. He regards it as "his" mountain! (And happy retirement, Todd Sonflieth!)

[@jessicajae7777]

As a mother myself you do not need to defend yourself....ever.

[@krazyraejr]

how dare they laugh at you, it was an incredibly important thing happening the same you were getting ready to give birth. if something like that happened to their home land the time they were out of country they'd be worried too

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent still-motion photography pictures 📷/news media coverage. Special thanks to guest speakers sharing personal information pertaining to the up coming volcanic eruption.😱. Making this documentary more authentic and possible -!!!😉. Had the good fortune to view the volcano & region years later.

[@shelleyforsythe5898]

I was 10 living in Astoria. I remember all the ash and for years we found pumice in young’s bay. This is a great video. Thank you! 😊

[@TheJaybird53]

An Exceptional video!

[@anitahood196]

What a great story of local historians dedication. Well done guys.

[@ManasesRamos]

Awesome video guys, thanks!!!

[@holyman5802]

Love this doc! I was 10 yrs old when it blew and I clearly remember that day and many days after. It snowed ash and was dark for 3 days and ash covered everything for months afterward.

[@EphemeralProductions]

Yep. I was 6.

[@seashellmac1968]

Excellent article. Thanks OPB. I had just turned 12 a week before she blew. Lived in Moses Lake Washington at the time and was outside playing when stuff starting falling from the sky that looked like ASH and the clouds looked really odd then it started getting dark. I ran inside to wake up my mom (she had worked grave yard shift and slept during the day). She thought she had slept all day and into the night! She turns on radio and hears about Helens Blowing. We ended up with 4 to 6" of ash on top of our roofs, sidewalks etc. If not more. It was so ugly everywhere you looked. Just gray. My grandfather (born on 1911) lived a few miles from us. He had built a filter system for his car and came to us with groceries. I'll never forget that day. RIP to all who have perished in this eruption. I remember Truman and so sad he didn't leave but yet, i understand why.

[@deejay4922]

I cycle toured through that area in Nov. '80 & found 2 inch deep ash under fir trees 6 months after the eruption. Truely amazing.

[@jeffpetrie7744]

Fantastic video!! I was 12 when a boom hit us in Eugene on May 18. My family had spent an uncomfortable night nautically camping on our Catalina 22’ sailboat, on Fern Ridge Reservoir. Before long we saw a black column blasting into the sky, 170 miles to our north. Because the mountain had been in the news so much, we could quickly conclude what had happened.

[@gamecorruptor-ln9xy]

I grew up swimming in Spirit lake in the summer and sledding down the mountain in the winter. Spirit lake was the most beautiful deep blue. My mom and I were driving to the Portland airport to go visit family in Phoenix the morning of May 18th. My mom (looking in her rearview mirror) exclaimed "what a monster!" I turned around, looking out the back window and said "drive faster". I was 10 years old at the time and I still miss Spirit lake.

[@francisebbecke2727]

I love the way the vegetation has grown back!

[@leannevandekew1996]

My brother and I would climb St. Helens as a warmup climb for Rainier. My freshman year in college, we did St. Helens late, in June. At the summit there were all these blue, green, yellow and brown patches. There is red snow in the PNW. I thought how cool, it isn't just a red algae. Digging deeper, I found it was human shit and toilet paper. As his Eagle Scout project, my brother proposed removing it all. The Forest Service said there were tons. I wondered how it would be removed. The day she blew up. I knew.

[@mountainsbeyond6757]

ha! true poetry! thanks for sharing.(and I'm glad Rainier has those bathroom facilities at base camp to fly out all the poo.)

[@primesspct2]

I learned how much human waste is on Everest, the estimate was 15 metric tons of waste, human waste and garbage left behind from hikers. Its shocking to hear of such things. I had never thought of such things, I sure do now,

[@marked4death076]

This has to be a joke no?

[@leannevandekew1996]

@@marked4death076 Not a native English speaker, are you.

[@leannevandekew1996]

@@marked4death076 Sicko.

[@runninggirl2765]

We passed over the Toutle River about a week after the blast. I will never forget how huge trees were laid down like toothpicks, all in one big swath. It looked like the end of the world.

[@foxmanghost1822]

My dad, even rescued a injured cat. We think it was probably an injured bobcat that he nicknamed tootle cat.

[@billt6116]

I bet he wasn't in Oregon when he did it?!

[@diane8937]

That would be Toutle cat...

[@billt6116]

@@diane8937 My dad rescued a sasquatch and named him scorched Azz, & Pizzed Off!!

[@VanishedPNW]

​@@billt6116 *mountain devil; mountain ape. Lol

[@altheacraig2904]

According to Nick Zentner a geolog professor at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington Mt Saint Helens has "blowen" up more than all the rest of the Cascade mountains together. And that the mountains are in relation to the Cascadia Subduction Zone that is off our coast from Vancouver, Canada 700 miles down to Cape Mendacino, California. He uses old fashioned chalk boards to show his work. I have learned very much about our geological history from him!

[@gregoryj.m.8985]

I was down in SoCal working when the Mountain finally went....and we were watching the news on it every evening....it was snowing ash ...i remember seeing them interviewing Mr.Truman and how he would tell them he was staying on that mountain ...i dont think that they ever found his remains.

[@karentrimmer]

My aunt & uncle lived 30 miles north of Mount Saint Helen's in a house my uncles and grandfather built in Chehalis WA. I remember trying to climb the mountain from the field behind their home when I was 6 y/o but the undergrowth was too thick to pass through. Thankfully, my aunt & uncle happened to be visiting me at my home in southern California the morning of May 18th. They made it home several days later. They had to put cloth around the air filter to keep the ash out. Their home was still standing but the ash destroyed systems and structures beyond repair and was eventually, sadly torn down.

[@johncichon9499]

I was 22yo in Chicago when this happened. The news coverage wasn't as good as this video. Thank you for doing so well on it. One clear memory I do have is one morning, probably on my way to work, I remember all the ash on my car...like I was in a big dust storm...a long way from this eruption. I remember thinking, "wow, that had to be some huge explosion! It's still hard to comprehend.

[@cynhanrahan4012]

I was about the same age and living in St Louis. We had cable tv so got quite a bit of what we (at the time) thought was amazing footage and reporting. Better than network. I don't think we got any ash, not that I remember. This truly is a remarkable piece of history preserved.

[@MTMikey]

Yes that part they found is definitely a supercharger on a diesel engine. The force of the blast could easily have moved it from a different location. At the same time martins rv could have been blown to bits and the remnants moved further downwind

[@gailjames6489]

Thank you very much.❤

[@ar4040smith]

As a 3 year old I was to the south side of the mountain. My father became the High school principal that year and I grew up in Toutle. It is very interesting to me to see all the changes over the years as when I lived in Toutle it was a grey dusted disaster zone. Thanks for the video.