St. Helens: Out of the Ash

[@jennasharp8536]

My dad was supposed to be on the mountain the day it blew. He and his best friend had a mining company and a claim on the mountain. However, May 18th, was Lindsey's birthday and the group ALWAYS went to the horse races in his birthday. One guy stayed up on the claim and he perished. They lost everything in the pyroclastic flow, the cabin was blown flat, and their heavy equipment was ruined. I'm so glad it was Lindsey's birthday that day!!!

[@AvaCherry189]

God didn't want you there. He planned it before Lindsey was born. 😊

[@kayfitzgerald309]

It's my birthday on the 18th too!😊

[@Colin-l1k]

Wow something good happened on a birthday? Must've been by chance because they are pagan. One of only two birthdays mentioned in the Bible was where John the Baptist got decapitated. The other time was when pharaoh killed the baker

[@sweetmissypetuniawilson9206]

That's some Final Destination sh*t right there! 👀

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

Thank God.

[@johnshields6852]

I was 20 and I knew this was something most human beings will never see.

[@debbievoss3496]

I was 23 going to college in Flagstaff, AZ. I'm really happy to have found this film. Thank you.

[@sweetmissypetuniawilson9206]

I was 12, living out in south Salem, Oregon, we received a lot of ash and I remember the sky getting dark, it was crazy! I was so amazed that the ash traveled that far!

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

Yep, you sure did.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

@@sweetmissypetuniawilson9206you guys got way more than we did, in Seattle. We only got it in the rain, for months. It would coat the trees and leaves, but no where near what those of you, just south of it, experienced. I could see the ash clouds from every eruption, on a clear day, however. That day, was cloudy, as per usual up here, as you well know. I’m a “Missy” too, by the way. I was 9 when it blew. I was in Hungary the day of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and I saw the exact same phenomena, with ash coating cars, awnings, and even the streets. I couldn’t understand why it felt so familiar until I realized it must be ash coming in the rain, from the bombing - aka - ash. It was so weird. I never saw it again, however. I was there for a few months.

[@randysmidt2702]

Yep me too.

[@blueviolette6421]

My sis and me watched it blow from our backyard in Longview, Wa. After hearing the loudest boom ever, we looked up and across toward the mountain and noticed a lot of black smoke (ash) spewing out of it quite rapidly. My dad comes running out to see and he got out his camera and shot a lot of pictures. We had an absolutely perfect view from where we were. There were no trees in our way to prevent us from seeing the entire event. As soon as they let people back up to the mountain, we all went up there and saw the devastation. I think my dad cried a little as we were all heartbroken with the amount of ruin left where homes, trees, animals were, just months ago, present and thriving. All that was left was quiet and gray.

[@sweetmissypetuniawilson9206]

I'm sure the sadness faded as you watched new life on the mountain form in days out of the devastation! It's amazing how the earth heals itself!

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

I’m in awe. We got ash in the form of rain, for quite a while, it would coat the leaves and trees, and we could see the cloud from various eruptions on a clear day, from Mercer Island. But man, you guys really, really got the brunt. We were just spectators. My grandma heard it, however, from just south of us, if you can believe it. Wow, like I said, I’m in awe. Your story is amazing.

[@KansasOff-Grid]

This is one of the Better Documentarys of what happened to Mt St Helen's and the areas. R.I.P. to those who lost there lives and livelihoods.

[@ruger8412]

Seems like I watch all old programs like this they are just so much better than the stuff they make to day. Maybe it's a sign I'm getting old 😆 but I think im right more time & effort put into old stuff.

[@ksps_pbs]

We're thrilled that you enjoyed our documentary! We put a lot of effort into researching and telling the story of the Mount St. Helens eruption, and we're glad that it resonated with you. Thanks for your support of KSPS PBS and for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

No, it’s a sign the world is literally insane.

[@enumrob]

I remember visiting Mt St Helens about 1984 and all these people were talking about how all the animal life and vegetation is never coming back. Went there again 10 years later, animals everywhere, trees etc. Went back two years ago, can't even tell where it happened if you never knew. To think that nature can't handle a volcano.

[@ItsMaisyDaisy]

Nature is amazing. Plants and wildlife have returned to Chernobyl too, though I imagine they're radioactive.

[@viperswhip]

They didn't know what they were talking about. Ash is a fertilizer, after forest fires, assuming enough rain, the forest recovers within a few years. The island in Iceland that blew up turned into a lush and beautiful island within 3 years after just by birds carrying seeds there.

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

You’re so full of crap

[@FaceFcuk]

Volcano Ash is the most fertiliser natural place in the world 😂

[@jessgunn6639]

What i find fascinating is them finding trout a few years later in the lake where all the fish had been killed and no one could trace where they came from!

[@stacybishop3484]

I was living in Vancouver WA. In 1980. I was 12 yo. I remember before the May 18th eruption there was an earthquake and it made them close school for the rest of the year. On may 18th we were helping a friend move and could see the full ash plume from the freeway. Never forget it. It was such a crazy day.

[@ksps_pbs]

Thank you so much for sharing your firsthand experience during the Mt. St. Helens eruption in 1980! Moments like these truly leave a lasting impression. We appreciate you sharing your unique perspective and being a part of our community!

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

You were right in the firing line, weren’t you? Wow. I was on Mercer Island, and we would see ash, when it rained, coating the plants, trees and cars, just a bit. But you guys, wow, you really got it. I was 9.

[@garymonaghan7196]

I was in Vancouver staying a week with my aunt and uncle when it blew I’m 58 now so in 1980 I think I was 15 or 14 or something like that, but I remember all the coming down and we couldn’t see daylight anymore and then I would go to other parts of the town with my uncle and it wouldn’t be as bad and we’re in the same town. It was weird Portland got it as well because that’s where I lived when this went down and I got back to the house and you couldn’t even see the yard. It was so thick in Portland. So I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like anywhere closer

[@nongthip]

I watched it erupt from a hilltop viewpoint near Olympia. The prevailing winds blew most of the ash east towards Yakima, but we definitely got a dusting. I collected a bunch of the ash and, as I was doing a ceramics class in high school, used the ash to make a glaze for some of my pots. It came out of the kiln with a deep earthy dark green flecked with black and gray accents. Still one of the better souvenirs of the event.

[@kummakummakummakummakummac8606]

My uncle lived around their and sent me some of the pumice rock (I think that's what they called it) and I thought that was the coolest thing. And a book that talked about the guy who refused to leave his home and ended up dying. I think their was a song about him or something.

[@stevenwarren5934]

I was living in Lacey off of College but was in Longview that morning. Within minutes I was I-5 North on my motorcycle trying to outrun the ash cloud but it overtook me a couple miles before the Toutle River bridge and traffic just stopped. I said screw this and drove on the shoulder... When I got to the Toutle River it was insane, the shoulder ended at the bridge so it took a bit to get over it and it was scary as Hell...lol. Finally got out of the cloud at Centralia... Hell of a morning...lol

[@AhNee]

@@kummakummakummakummakummac8606 Yes, Harry Truman. I was in 6th grade, and we all sent him cards. They're all buried under the ash and mud now.

[@USMCCGAGNG]

Theres an idea.

[@rubygrooms137]

Would have love to have some ash from that baby. Beutifull glaze

[@susiq731]

I wasn't born until 1984, but I have lived very close to this mountain for most of my life and still do. I see it every time it's clear outside, all our swimming holes on the Toutle river still have ash Banks and evidence of the mountain all around. I still never get tired of watching videos like this.

[@jaredaikins7390]

Washington is truly a beautiful state. I can see Adams and Rainier on a regular basis which for those who don't know, are also dormant volcanoes.

[@richardbrowning8221]

I watched it happen as a young man in downtown Vancouver, Wa. And it was mind boggling. Mother nature takes no prisoners and needs not apologize for it.i felt very fortunate to be a part of seeing history in the making.RIP to those 53 people who were warned but got too close and suffocated from the ash trying to escape. Ain't nice trying to fool mother nature!

[@EchoesDistant]

@@richardbrowning8221 There is a spot in Vancouver, WA, at the intersection of SR 500 and SR 503 where you can clearly see the top of Mount St Helens over the businesses. Not far from there, a block or two south of the intersection of SR 500 and 137th Ave there is a clearing for power line pylons that provides a fantastic view of Mount Hood in Oregon.

[@ghomerhust]

i was a few months old when this went up. my mom remembers ash falling at our home in western nebraska

[@larrypendleton1585]

@@richardbrowning8221lip p😅😅oooo

[@seisies-mama]

I'm watching this 43 years later, 9/5/2023 this is a very interesting and educational video. I was only 4 ½years old when it erupted.

[@danlewis1871]

Amazing how nature repairs in ways we can't comprehend.

[@andrewdaley3081]

Very profound. 🇬🇧👍

[@user-ej2xz3lx2e]

The human body too

[@l.faraday8767]

All we have to do is get out of the way, nature will do the rest.

[@mackpines]

Amazing that its been 40 years ago today. May 18th, 1980 to May 18th, 2020. I never get tired of watching and learning about the eruption. Incredible what the power of nature can do to change a landscape in seconds.

[@susannaCdonovan23]

Mack Pines I have the National Geographic edition on the mountain and had brought it to work in 1980. Just about everyone in my office wanted a copy (Portland, Oregon) . National Geographic got a lot of subscribers that year.

[@katherinemeriam110]

pm

[@daddyrabbit835]

and just think, 40 years before that WWII was still going on. I bring this up because I can remember the Mt St. Helens eruption. I never thought I'd be able to say "I remember 40 years ago..." just like the folks that went through WWII.

[@Sleazball_]

I'm watching it this day 2022 WOW n it wasn't referred to me I just looked it up

[@jacquelynunitt539]

​@@Sleazball_😊

[@debbyparker8147]

I was at Mount St. Helen's in the 70's and Spirit Lake was beautiful

[@judithstone-aaen5552]

We camped in the area in the 70s and I have perfect pictures of the snow covered mountain. I had moved to Manzanita, but kept my house in Grant Park, renting it to friends. I was in town that day and we watched the eruption from the rooftop. It was astounding. After driving back to the beach later that day, we woke up up the next morning to inches of volcanic dust over everything. For years afterward, the kids gathered volcanic rocks from the beach that had washed down the rivers, out to sea and then were deposited on the beaches. We still have some. I was 31 the year it exploded. It’s 2024 now and this excellent documentary has given me lots of information about the mountain’s eruption and aftermath I probably would never have known otherwise. Thanks for your work! Well done!

[@pilsplease7561]

@@judithstone-aaen5552 It was stunning, its a shame that we lost so much with it.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

What a perfect name for that beautiful lake. I hope you go back some day.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

@@pilsplease7561but gained so much, as well. It was a completely natural event, and nature kind of knows what she’s doing.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

@@judithstone-aaen5552this story is amazing. Wow. Incredible. Thank you for sharing, this is truly incredible.

[@pprehn5268]

Thanks...history lane for a 75 year old

[@raedarden9830]

We lived on the west side of the mountain, near Kelso, about 13 miles south of the entrance to the Spirit Lake Highway. We woke the morning of the eruption to an earthquake. We later realized we didn't hear the actual explosion, even though our country home was not far from the mountain...I'd say about fifty miles "as the crow flies". When I went outside, it was "raining" warm mud. Wet ash covered the ground like gray snow...eerily quiet. The cattle and horse seemed bewildered...the only grass visible in our pasture was under a lone fir tree. After providing hay and fresh water for the animals, we made our way to a favorite spot in the hills to the east in our old Datsun pickup (Mom, Dad, our two young boys and a St. Bernard in the small cab). We rounded the hill, passing the point at which we were accustomed to having our first view of the familiar ice cream cone-shaped summit of Mt. St. Helens in all her glory. To our shock and amazement, there was no summit. Not until we climbed a few hundred yards farther could we see what was left of "our mountain". Not yet knowing the extent of the devastation, my husband and I felt an immediate sense of loss of a treasured childhood wilderness-paradise; and at the same time a strange inability to comprehend the gargantuan force of nature that took her from us.

[@AvaCherry189]

I'm sure words cannot express your feelings. That a life changing event you lived through.

[@lindalacombe6581]

Really excellent documentary. I was in my senior high school year when Mount St Helen’s erupted. We had ash falling in out east central Alberta town. It made a big impression on me. God bless all of those poor souls that perished in the eruption.

[@alexanderleach3365]

I wasn't born until 1985 after Mt St Helens erupted.

[@shanewalton3361]

Anyone living or at Spirit lake was gone within mins…the heat plus ash and such. I can’t imagine

[@Sushi2735]

God bless each and everyone of the rescuers! What brave people. I hope the kindness has been returned ten fold in their lives! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@bwmcofc]

May 5th 2020 and I just watched this video.. I lived in Vancouver that year after graduating from Hudsons Bay HS in 79.. My dad and I sat on our roof in Hazel Dell and took many pictures the saturday before it blew. But what I wanted to share was, the Feb. before that Sunday in May, a group of us went backpacking up St Helens to a small lake.(don't know if it even had a name), and spent a couple days fishing. We were catching some of the largest trout we had ever seen. After the first eruptions we figured it out that the very old and very large fish were coming up to the colder water. I was actually in church when it blew, but watched from the parking lot there at Vancouver 1st church on Main St. next to the Safeway. We collected some ash but the front all went to the north and east. Thanks for letting me share

[@dixiewishbone5582]

Thanks for sharing your story and perspective, quite interesting! Examining history can sometimes be painful but nevertheless important to relive at times. I was 22 on that day and living in Va. and could only relate to daily newspaper posts, God bless! S. Carolina

[@simha3154]

Thanks for sharing Lloyd

[@dianachka100]

were you going to cougarlake?

[@dianachka100]

im in vancouver and its no more vancouver..its like portland now..here...

[@incog99skd11]

I flew past Mt. St. Helens in 1975 on a flight from Boise to Seattle. She was a beautiful mountain all covered in snow. She had a perfect cone shape like Mt. Fujiyama in Japan. I was awestruck. When it blew I thought, "Darn that was the prettiest mountain, too bad it's gone."

[@isabellavalencia8026]

Mt rainier looks much more similar to mt fuji

[@stephenVocalist9480]

What a Bodacious Explosion 💥 !

[@animalyze7120]

Fuji and St. Helens were often called Sisters because of their shared and almost identical Beauty.

[@mr.iforgot3062]

I was in Iowa at the time of this. We watched it on the television set. We only had 4 tv channels back in them days.

[@maryillinski3487]

Devastating but the comeback is remarkable. Well done piece.

[@gregsaunders6636]

I remember the event well. Watching the news reports, marveling at the sheer power unleashed, and praying for those caught in the cataclysm. Then one or two days later the effects of the eruption became evident half a continent away here in Kansas. A strange other worldly orange sky as the ash cloud dispersed around the globe. The power of nature is awesome. To be both held in awe, and respect.

[@daddyrabbit835]

Same here.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

Lovely comment. I was 9, living on an Island near Seattle.

[@paulbaker3144]

It was a gorgeous day. I was fishing in a raft on a Cascade High Lake 150 miles South and heard the explosion but didn’t know what it was until I got home a couple days later. The sound travelled down the Cascade range. My Dad was a professor of Volcanology in Eugene and it was the highlight of his career. We hardly saw him for days. Some of his graduate students were near the mountain helping with research.

[@yespls6260]

Glad he made it out okay. I'm sure it was an interesting time for volcanologists, but somewhat scary for their families

[@jongilchrist7229]

I was wondering if there was an audio explosion. Apparently the sound waves flew over the blast zone but they could hear it in Seattle and Portland.

[@OregonCrow]

k

[@TBR_Deathwise]

@@jongilchrist7229 I thought you said Poland for a sec🤣

[@JackMehoff-m3s]

You’re lying. Your dad worked at the gas station

[@nemospence2724]

Great storytelling. I liked the voice of the female narrator. The Mount Saint Helens eruption has fascinated me ever since I knew about it. From the Philippines

[@clarenceghammjr1326]

You got taal, what a amazing area up on the cliff in tagaytay, looking down on volcano island, that was my honeymoon 3/23

[@garydavis5703]

When Mt. St. Helens exploded, I was stationed at Ellsworth AFB, SD (Strategic Air Command (SAC)). The base sent all the bombers and tankers to other SAC bases out of harms way...It was amazing watching all those planes take off....NATURE WILL ALWAYS WIN.....

[@thebeasters]

We are fleas, a nuisance, to be easily disposed of. George Carlin

[@danielhowell1640]

I was stationed there too. Except for Sturgess and Mt. Rushmore, that is one boring place.

[@lisamariemary]

About how many planes? Are bombers and tankers both planes?

[@garydavis5703]

@@lisamariemary We had B-52 bombers and KC-135 air-refueling planes: a bomber would take off followed by a KC-135 - it was known as a "minimum interval -take off"...around 20 combined - might have been more or less....

[@lisamariemary]

@@garydavis5703 Thank you so much for telling me about it, I appreciate that. Must've really been something to see.

[@Danstaafl]

I have watched a few documentaries regarding Mt St Helens. This is my favorite. Well done. This is a gem.

[@billofjazz]

Mine too, and I was 90 miles north of the event on that date, and ready to help my brother celebrate his 38th birthdate anniversary.

[@caelumvaldovinos5318]

That's the miracle of PBS! They *never* cease to make excellent content!

[@leichi1988]

This truly is a realy good made documentarie,I was amazed by the intelligenze and knowledge of all those spezialists,mark this one or make a copy,those kinda great material is really hard 2 find online.

[@PresidentDennis]

I think I might like the Minute by Minute doc by A&E better from back when they used to actually make real docs rather than just reality tv Tho this does go deep into the after effects of and life after the eruption that others don’t

[@cfhcowboy9292]

@@billofjazz i live up north

[@billhackney2133]

I was up there about 3 months after the blast. I ran a backhoe in the red zone. I was digging out roads ditches, looking for cars, bodies Nd what ever I dug up. I found a lot of vehicles thank God only one body. I did not sleep for a month after that one. We stayed at yale Washington and it was a 2 hr drive up there every day work 12 he's and a 2 he drive home every day. 7 days a week. We got 29 a hr from 0 to 40 hrs. 40 to 60 was time and half. 60 to 80 was double time and 80 to 100 was triple time and everything over 100 was 5 times. I made really good money in 1980. The only time we got time off was they had probes stuck all over the mountain and any time it hickuped of rumpled they send a helo out of Vancouver and send us home. If it happen at 8 in the morning we got sent home for the rest of the day with pay. I was there working for about 1 1/2 would still be there but job ran out( federal government job) best paying job I ever had. Only thing is the amount of rain it rained there. 120 inch a year on average. People there dont tan they rust.

[@MarcoPollo77]

Amazing story.

[@lindachant2618]

Great story loved the 80es early 90es then things seem to have gone down hill since so sad how the world is now are countries are completely different remember on the mainstream media when it was ok my god how brave people were

[@gregorymalchuk272]

How deep was the ash on the roads?

[@tm13tube]

Thank you for what you did.

[@mothra__13]

@@cherylthrasher2296 shut up

[@lordoflys-1]

I was living in Japan when my Dad sent me a polaroid shot of the dark ash cloud heading in the direction of Thorp, WA where our farm was. This was an excellent documentary. Very well done in all aspects of a very important event in Washington State's natural history.

[@clarenceghammjr1326]

Did you get to see sakurajima?, what a beautiful scene the pictures from the lakeare

[@sheilajohnston9400]

I was camping at the bottom when it blew!!!!!!!never forget it

[@marjoriegarner5369]

Sheila, tell us more. please.

[@AvaCherry189]

Glad you're here to remember.

[@Hillr2249]

How did you survive? What happened?

[@Pokesalad222]

Uh huh

[@richardbaxter2057]

A fine example of what television programmes should be like! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MoaSize]

Kudos to to Alison Kartevold. A fine documentary. And, a perfect example of how the quality of information and the consumable but not flamboyant way it is relayed to the viewer by public broadcasting is far and away better than commercial television.

[@conniemitchell1939]

Nature at it(s) most powerful-and in no big rush to share it(s) plans!

[@BFree-ge6ms]

MoaSize, yes, I second your assessment, bloody good quality documentary! So much better than many commercial, quickly produced, so called documentaries.

[@bouteilledeau1463]

This type of documentary is far better than the sensationalist, dramatic garbage that in this subject instill more fears than the scientists who make their comments in these documentaries would want to.

[@cathiesmith861]

I was 10 years old and I lived in Medical Lake, Wa. Which I'd 15 min outside of Spokane. Wa. And 200 miles from Mt. St. Helen's. I was outside playing with my grandmother's dog. It was a gorgeous Sunday and about 12pm I watched the ash cloud roll in and it went from day light to midnight black. I will never forget going to the Tuttle River after the eruption with my other grandmother and what was left of the river was indescribable.

[@kathikamholz1493]

I was 10 also and remember watching it on the news in California

[@aw8079]

I was in Lewiston ID, day became night and the temp went up 15 degrees. 2 inches of glass fiber ash.

[@brandonsavitski]

@Mike Ray drugs are bad ummm k

[@GlennTheSadMarinersFan]

I was 9 and lived on Mcchord AFB at the time. we didn't get nearly as much as as eastern Washington did.

[@johnfranklin1955]

The video misquoted Harry Truman, they said “he like so many others thought they had nothing to fear” Harry didn’t say I’ll be OK or nothing will happen to me, he said I’m not leaving, if the mountain blows and takes my home I’m like a ship captain and will go down with the ship.

[@lemankurtz8950]

Yeah I just said that too. Wish I'd known everyone was gonna beat me to the punch. 😒

[@billofjazz]

I was residing near Mount Lake Terrace on that date and I think (as my 80-year-old memory serves) that you would be correct. Nice catch. I still have a lot of ties in Western WA today, and remember how my Ex's family reacted after learning that my sister-in-law's husband was one of the fatalities. My brother turned 38 that day. A UA flight attendant cousin, Connie, was aboard a SEATAC bound plane that flew by the mountain shortly after the north face collapsed. This video contains the best compilation of those events I have ever seen. I saw people interviewed that I had never seen but knew of because of their places at the event. It's all still a "WOW" memory.

[@markaoslo5653]

@Coy Leigh - I think that death is just death when it's done however; 200' of debris on Harry and the lake - I can't imagine that it took very long, to be over for him-

[@markaoslo5653]

@DB Cooper's MoneyBags - Yeah, 'cause that's _definitely_ what I said... Keep shaking your damn head; maybe something important, will stop rattling around in there. You do realize, that he was probably pulverized in fewer than 5 seconds, max (more like 2) - I doubt he had _time_ to suffocate. I'm not intending to be macabre or indifferent to Harry's death - much less, the means - it's just that he wouldn't have had the time to feel or think much, if anything. You have yourself a cheerful holiday there, sport.

[@markaoslo5653]

@DB Cooper's MoneyBags - Well, at least _you're_ the expert on that. GTF over yourself, too Mr Expert. You're welcome,as well!

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@ksps_pbs]

Thank you for watching!

[@the-macjagger]

I took a natural disaster class from this guy's graduate professor. Nobody expected this. Best class I've ever taken. I know to read USGS reports before buying a house now.

[@kevinjohnson7300]

I actually have a old pill bottle full of the volcanic ash. Its super fine, no chunks at all in it. The previous owner of the house was there when the ash was falling. He collected a few containers and left us one. It has tape on it with The words "St.Helens,Washington Volcanic Ash May 18th 1980, Clyde S. Brown"

[@susannaCdonovan23]

Kevin Johnson You've got a relic and a reminder.

[@rolaidbrown3413]

I still have some too, in an old cough syrup bottle. It is fine like baby powder. My grandmother lived in Wenatchee and we would visit her every year. We visited Rocky Reach Dam the following year and they had ash trays in their gift shop, supposed to made of ash, that looked like a volcano. You put your cigarette in the ash tray and the smoke would come through the top of the volcano.

[@lyncressler2608]

I had dated a boy and inside his mustang there was ash behind all his gauges

[@caffienevaccine]

Looking great for 40.

[@mountainmandale1587]

An amazing event! I wasn't there, but it is forever etched in my memory. RIP Harry!

[@thebeasters]

Glad you weren't mountain man. Cheers to the next adventure

[@suzannee6673]

"I pay my taxes!" Say no more, we'll tell the mountain not to blow.

[@troimccormick5173]

😂lol

[@hondaxl250k0]

What she meant was we are adults and we don’t need the government making choices for us…. My land my choice.. they want to stay. Tyrants have no right to stop them from getting killed their own way.

[@Gurrla]

🤣

[@bakedandsalty9234]

Boomers gonna boomer.

[@jgfunk]

I'm sure the government was using those tax dollars in very relevant areas and very responsibly. 🙄

[@MannyEspinola-q4t]

Thank you for this video

[@barbarabelt701]

I lived in Washington for a while and visits the mountain many times. This website was very very interesting and I learned more info than I had known from the past. Thank you so much. Miss Washington so very much.

[@valkyriesardo278]

I love the segment about reforestation, both the natural and the manmade.

[@terric3121]

I was 23 and lived in Portland. I was on the roof of our apartment and watched in awe. She became “my mountain” and I have witnessed every eruption since. I love that mountain.

[@dorinemort6359]

Me too, I live in Portland also, I was 20

[@shanewalton3361]

From Portland you could see the explosion??? Holy cow:…

[@cruisepaige]

Totally get it. I live in the Alps and I love them. ❤🏔🌋

[@blackholeentry3489]

I was born in Portland and grew up in the surrounding areas. My mother used to point out Mt St Helens and referred to it as "The Snow Cone Mountain" because, with its rounded top, it looked similar to an ice cream cone....and I vividly recall what it used to look like. In the 50's, we moved to CA, but when it blew in 1980, shortly thereafter my wife and I rode a motorcycle to have a view. Police barriers would only let us get so close, for it was still belching steam. I bought a one gallon container, scraped up some ash, (which was everywhere) and transported it back home. For years I looked at it and then finally dumped it on my garden. Did I notice any difference? Why, yes, since you asked....tomatoes the size of my feet with a similar shape!

[@bluesapphire5143]

I was an undergraduate student from California at WAzzu. I will never forget this moment in time. ❤

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Thank you. I so enjoyed that.

[@ksps_pbs]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@NIGHTOWL-jf9zt]

To those who have witnessed this event, you have seen one of earths many beautiful spectacles. Helen woke from her slumber and she was angry. I may have not seen Helen blow her temper but I have witnessed a tragic event as it unfolded in 2001. I only have to reach into my mental filing cabinet and pull out the folder that hold the images, sounds of that fateful day. RIP to those who have perished in both events.

[@Zilla-r3h]

I was 5 when it went. Although I was 100 miles away and not fully understanding what was happening, after it blew I was able to go in my yard and collect Ash that fell. I still Have that jar of ash. Then in my late 20's (2004) we were certain she would blow AGAIN. She burped a few times and fell back to sleep. I am 49 now, I still feel before my life is over, she will blow again. If so, I will witness something more than once in my life that most people will never see EVER. P.N.W. is so beautiful, which is why i will never leave, but we have some beasts of mountains here.

[@tabuleirocmd]

Those first assistance army hospital tents also took care of some injured BFs on this occasion.... Thanks for sharing!

[@ksps_pbs]

Thanks for watching our video! It's always fascinating to learn more about historical events like the eruption of Mount St. Helens, and the role that various groups played in responding to the disaster. Thanks again for watching and for your support! Best regards, The KSPS PBS team

[@jennasharp8536]

Yep!!

[@michaelgarvin8608]

A+ documentary, very well done; one of the best information rich science documentaries I've seen. Mt. Saint Helen's is a beautiful mountain and amazing how she literally rose from the ashes and created such amazing natural features. Plus, she is a living breathing science laboratory and she's very talkative, from a nature point-of-view.

[@jamestyrer6067]

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO MOTHER NATURE HAS NO RULES

[@timothyleebrown1593]

May 18th 1980 I was 18...in The military in Germany...I remember hearing about it.

[@kerryfitzgibbons9902]

I was in Vancouver on May 18th 1980 driving north at 8:30 am and saw the eruption; It was awe inspiring. 10 years later I was up on the north side with a local Boy Scout troop planting seedlings. In the early 1960s i worked at a Church Youth camp on Spirit Lake and have many pleasant memories of hiking to Leta Lake, timberline on St. Helens. I am pleased to see the rebirth of the forest.

[@terralee9339]

I was 10 years old when Mt St Helen's eruption. I'm 49 now, its been almost 40 years ago. My family and I were living in Olympia Washington. Cars stopped working, I remember we had to cover our mouths. It was terrible. Everything covered in ash. Very eerie feeling I had back then.

[@kevinjohnson7300]

I actually own some of that ash in a pill bottle that the old owner of my house bottled. He was actually at St.Helens when it blew. He told the story perfectly.

[@kevinjohnson7300]

I can also see how it would be harmful. The ash is very fine so it could be inhaled very easily

[@lhaviland8602]

@@kevinjohnson7300 And then turns to concrete in the lungs. Ouch.

[@2ManyGoats]

@@lhaviland8602 my daughter told me that's called pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.

[@lhaviland8602]

@@2ManyGoats yep

[@Vintageaudionagoya]

We enjoyed that. From WI living in Japan. Home during the corona virus outbreak

[@stephenmccandless5113]

I was there on 5-18-80 . One thing they never tell you is that the entire ash cloud lit up with flashes , as the gasses exploded within , bringing the cloud to a HUGE lightening show ! I remember Harry Truman as he was interviewed .

[@TroyOttosen-jg7tt]

Any of you posting realize Mt Novarupta here in Alaska blew in 1912, largest volcanic eruption ever recorded in history, approximately 9 times stronger then st Helen’s and changed the worlds weather approx for a year?😳

[@hisgross]

@@TroyOttosen-jg7tt That was a huge eruption, imagine being anywhere near at that time. However, Mnt Tambora in 1815 and Krakatoa in 1883 are more powerful recorded eruptions. Unrecorded are so much bigger it's insane. Yellowstone literally has removed mountain ranges from the face of the earth - Super crazy. look at a map of the US and you can see the path of the yellowstone hotspot caldera through the cascades and rockies as the North american continent has moved over it.

[@TroyOttosen-jg7tt]

@@hisgross I live in Alaska now, just a fact, Mt Novarupta here in Alaska blew up in 1912 at Katmai nt park area it is the largest eruption ever recorded in earth! Look that up!😳😳😳

[@ceciliazderic214]

Whaf? How do we follow your bad English?

[@stephenmccandless5113]

How about your BAD SPELLING!@@ceciliazderic214 You are just one who loves to complain !!

[@janettedavis8416]

I will never forget that morning. I awoken to my poor sweet Mother crying her eyes out it was her 45th Birthday and she was just devastated from the destruction caused by this Volcano! So Very Proud to be Your Daughter! R.I.P.

[@holzoreo950]

Great documentary. The last one I watched didnt say anything about the animals so I respect them for giving numbers and time to discuss wildfire coming back.

[@jovetj]

Nice production. I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for making it and showing it here.

[@billofjazz]

I totally agree with you on that count.

[@judil3294]

Still feels so recent. Knowing how long it's been makes me feel a tad old. We had been married 2 years when this happened. Amazing.

[@ronnieburton1312]

A fascinating documentary hosted by a beautiful lady!

[@ksps_pbs]

Thanks for watching!

[@KLIPAMSoulRadioStation]

...Thank you for posting. Thank you Mr. Hagerman for your service.

[@samflanagan77]

I just totally loved this video. I can't thank KSPS enough for this incredible PSA re: volcanoes and St. Helens in particular. Well done.

[@marnaehrech1223]

On The day of the big eruption, 5/18/80, I had a massive car wreck that put me in the hospital for 8 days. Much of that time was spent watching the drama of the eruption unfold in real time. I've always felt connected to that mountain! I enjoyed this

[@dave5065]

Blew up on my birthday turned 17 and was in boot camp!

[@wildgoosedreaming1]

Talk about omens.

[@KKnits]

This was fantastic to see the recovery, as well as all the new information. Thank you!

[@stephenpritchard4238]

It's incredible how nature responds after a devastating disaster such as this eruption of Mount St Helens. Recovery is a miracle that the earth can survive. Yes somethings will die, but! many things will recover and it takes time.

[@eddstraub1390]

This is a chilling video. Ever so often mother nature reminds us who the boss is. JANIE

[@carolinepaquier8156]

OK that is officially AWE INSPIRING. Nature in all its awesome majesty healing one of her scars. Just beautiful.

[@ptgonia]

WOW! Really well done. Thank you for sharing.

[@johnlacroix1639]

WOW very interesting super kool ,1st class great info.,,, AAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++ again great video I liked it a lot ,keep up the great work.,

[@Anna_Stetik]

I was 9 years old, living in northern WA. I had spent the night with a friend, and was awake, waiting for my friend to wake up. Mt. St. Helens blew, my friend jolted awake and asked, "What was that?!" We heard it over 300 miles away. Soon after, everything was covered in ash - every last thing. The sky, the ground, and every single thing around was gray Cars, roofs, yards, streets, sidewalks - it was like someone took a paint brush and just grayed everything out. My dad scooped up vials of ash from our own backyard and put them in our memory boxes. It lasted for about 2 weeks - seemed like it would never be normal again. I remember watching Harry R Truman on tv defying the evacuation order before the volcano blew. He wasn't afraid, he simply didn't want to leave his home.

[@pnwRC.]

Fantastic video! While I was a very young man, I'm still old enough to barely remember the events that happened this date!

[@jackwatson3944]

A volcano erupted.

[@allaboutroofing2]

Welcome to being old. Lol

[@pnwRC.]

@@allaboutroofing2 🤣

[@suzannegrover8948]

Great documentary -- thanks! A pleasure to hear the nice people talking as opposed to a bunch of noisy sound effects :-) Terrific job on the narrator's part too!

[@norobbery]

Exactly! Bunch of A/V geeks get a hold of some of these documentaries and simply ruin them with their bells and whistles.

[@MaciejBogdanStepien]

Another KSPS gem. Thank you for uploading this.

[@patrickriesch9502]

I was living in Portland at the time and remember it vividly. Able to see it was awesome

[@darrenmarrable2530]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this detailed article. Wonderful. Thankyou.

[@feeberizer]

Today is May 18, 2020. It's been 40 years since the eruption. I watched it with my neighbors in the Kent valley. It's still the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. A very sad day for those who lost their lives....

[@thebeasters]

Was very young in Spokane. Left that hole years ago, but deeply miss the nature of the PNW. I return frequently

[@perrydewitte5837]

Mastashake oof Spokane is Rough! West side of Washington is best side

[@feeberizer]

@@thebeasters I left the 42% annual sunshine near Seattle for 83%+ in the desert SW nearly 20 years ago.

[@feeberizer]

@@perrydewitte5837 All the western WA transplants I've met here in the SW all left because of the spring of 1999 when we had 93 straight days of rain. We didn't see more than 2 days of sunshine in a row until the summer of 2000.

[@perrydewitte5837]

Feeber Izer to each their own 🤷‍♂️ the cloudy weather is one of the biggest highlights for me personally, I think everyone that lives here should take vitamin D daily though.

[@fredgrove4220]

Today, 18th May, is the 40th anniversary of the Mt. St. Helens eruption.

[@brandonsavitski]

Boom!

[@gardensofthegods]

Hard to believe it was that long ago

[@jefferylilly4915]

And coverup anniversary as well

[@Alstone777]

This is a very good video, I was most impressed with those fish from the lake as well as the images shown.

[@arcar66]

Excellent documentary....Thank you. Nature is amazing!

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

Harry didn’t think there was “nothing” to fear, he actually accepted the risk, and went down with the ship, as he stated. Good for him for fighting for his right to his land and to die, if necessary, as he lived. I was 9 at the time, and I remember all of it. We could see the eruptions from Mercer Island, in the form of an ash cloud when the sky was clear. I took photos with this cool old camera my grandfather used to own. Unfortunately the day it blew for the last time, it was, of course, cloudy. My Grandma heard it blow, just south of us, if you can believe it. 8:00 am, May 18th, 1980. But it was fascinating to grow up following every tremor, earthquake, the growth of the lava dome, and praying for anyone on that day, who may have been in the path. It was an amazing thing to experience. I had a cool poster of the major eruption on my wall for years.

[@ninefingersgrapes]

The best review I have watched! I was residing in Renton, WA when the mountain exploded. Never heard any noise, but spent the next few days watching the TV in seeing the damage. I had hoped when the mountain started to become a threat, that we would see lava flows like those in Hawaii, but that was never going to be the case. I climbed the mountain along with some friends on July 22,1990. I t was great to see the recovery. I will always remember my experience of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens!

[@amandaloving4550]

I was 6yrs old and living in the mountains of southwest Virginia. I remember that summer as being cold and remember the ash covering our cars.

[@richardevppro3980]

if you have any interest in Volcanos then this is for you both the massive destruction and the nature of repair excellent watching!

[@sheridanwhippey5983]

Love the Northern Cascades. Planning on going to visit them again when this lockdown in England is over, So probably in 10 years 🌋😂, (Hopefully sooner than that). Always wanted to be a Volcanologist.

[@echobadewitz2900]

L-i am a civilian and have history in live for over 100 years of time never end world please communication in appropriate manner . thankyou echo Leena badewitz

[@rweerakkody4565]

Also see videos on Krakatoa and Tambora.

[@marcelcyrille9258]

mkikm

[@karmicpopcorn6440]

I was 10 and in TN and I remember it. Finally got to visit in 2023. Absolutely amazing. The distances are so deceptive.

[@bartroberts3634]

I was 19 years old when this happened and Stationed at Homestead AFB in Florida!Memory is a Funny thing!Now some 40 years later I still remember it like it was Yesterday!Thanks for the Reminder of Simpler Times!

[@billdumke211]

I remember the DJ who said, "You don't have to come to Washington for vacation. The state of Washington is coming to you."

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

Hahahahahahaha! Some DJs got it goin' on. Excellent. Thanks for your comment!

[@mannyreyes1393]

Bill Dumke OKAY BY MARIE REYES

[@lyncressler2608]

Omg looooooool

[@karlavrzalova9616]

9

[@HoneyBadger80886]

Ash dropped in San Diego.

[@collinsje5]

The most interesting takeaway form this documentary is how quickly and efficiently nature repairs itself.

[@jovetj]

Everyone always underestimates nature. Over and over.

[@FLAME4564]

@@jovetj Indeed So in other words Nature warns us all not to do that. Funny enough younger children have been known to be more in tune with nature than older people. In other words nature is the greatest teature to young kids of the younger generation and in time is slowly starting to teach us all.

[@gtc1961]

Mother nature laughs at humans...I do too.

[@miguelmurill1]

The problem is not nature.

[@italiantraditionalcatholic2390]

Despite what liberals tell us

[@cruisepaige]

I am very excited to go visit this area this summer. My uncle was working there and sent us a little baggie of volcano ash. I was about 12. When I visited Mt Etna 35 years later and it was erupting rock that was like instant coffee, I swept some up and sent it to him. He’s gone now but he definitely fed my sense of humor, and my sense of curiosity. RIP Uncle Wayne.

[@ksps_pbs]

Thanks for sharing your story with us! We're glad that our documentary on Mount St. Helens could bring back some memories of your uncle and his connection to the area. We hope that your upcoming visit is full of new discoveries!

[@johncaffrey5395]

Thank you for the well done video! Planning on traveling the US, Mt. St. Helen's is on the list now!!🙂🙂

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-2025]

So interesting to watch this after all these years.

[@robertwhitright9816]

I was sitting on the dock with my bare feet in the water, in a little town called Boardman, on the Columbia river, with a really nice looking girl named Tammy. The temperature was about 80 degrees f. I thought it was kind of odd because it was so dark and cloudy over in Washington. Later on that day I learned the mountain had erupted. The very next day I was standing on the Cowlitz River bridge in kelso Washington watching the log jammed mud flowing down towards the Columbia river. Lots of debris and vehicles were in that mud flow. What an amazing and sad sight that was.

[@tammybarrett7650]

That was me 😮😅😮😅❤❤❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@tammybarrett7650]

❤❤❤❤

[@robertwhitright9816]

@@tammybarrett7650 are you the Tammy that I was sitting on the dock with? Smith or was it west?

[@robertwhitright9816]

@@tammybarrett7650 your still alive? Thank God! That was a long time ago. Who would have thought that after all these years we would make some sort of contact? I guess you must be married. You have been in my thoughts all this time. I don't know what's wrong with me. I should have held on to you as long as I could. Oh well. I hope you've had a good life. Whoever married you is one lucky man, I would think.

[@robertwhitright9816]

@@tammybarrett7650 some kind of reply anything at all would be nice.

[@evyvon69]

I was 11 when Mt St Helens blew her top! Most awesome show of how powerful nature really is & how fragile human life is. Mr. Truman was a stubborn ass for not leaving the mountain when he had a chance , now he's buried under mud. so sad.

[@brianwhittig4206]

Harry had said St Helens was his life & he wouldn't last a day anywhere else. I look at it as he didn't want to leave the place he always called home & died where he was the happiest & most of us we'll be lucky to die in our happiest place

[@chawkes77]

I have a feeling that even if he knew what was coming exactly as it happened he still would have stayed put. Harry had over 50 years invested there and in the twilight years of his life nothing was going to change that not even the mountain that took his life

[@wbru49]

Without the Corps of Engineers, much of what you see in the PBS documentary would be dramatically different. The Toutle River flowing out of Spirit Lake was stopped by the avalanche that formed a natural “dam” that raised the height of the lake by 200 feet. As the lake rose, there was immediate danger of the lake overflowing the loose material in the dam which would have caused the dam to quickly scour and suddenly collapse. The Corps drilled a tunnel in the side of the mountain with adjacent outlet works to provide a controlled outflow, thus saving Spirit Lake from collapse and another devastating, if not deadly flood event downstream. This was completed in 1985. Then the Corps of Engineers built Mount St. Helen's Sediment Retention Structure (dam) that impounded water on the Toutle River several miles downstream of the volcano. This created a lake that slowed down the river flow and allowed the voluminous tons amounts of suspended sediment to fall out of suspension. Water flowing through the outlet works of the dam was now clear and provided for the return of anadromous fish up to the dam. With a newly built fish collection facility, the Corps transported returning fish upstream and restored the fish runs. This was completed by 1989. Both the tunnel and dam cost over $80 million dollars, yet received not a single word in this PBS report. Terribly sad.

[@tonics7121]

Outstanding reporting, incredibly informative. Thanks.

[@BRZZ-xw4hd]

incredible great vid thanks ...peace out

[@diane9812]

I was in mossyrock, 8 years old. My great aunt and uncle’s living room had a picture window looking at mt St. Helens. It was incredible to watch. We went back home to Seattle. We never had complete darkness as the ash went mostly East, but it sure looked like it snowed. We dealt with ash a long time. We laughed when people sold it, as there were PILES of it on the side of every road. Sadness around David Johnston and Harry Truman were felt by everyone.

[@patriciajensen1428]

This was amazing to see. I haved lived in the Pacific Northwest all my life and I will never forget seeing on the news and dealing with all the ash. I cannot wait to visit Johnston Ridge observatory

[@thebeasters]

Ya left the shithole Spokane 3 years ago, but the beauty of the PNW is unparalleled

[@richardmarty9939]

Gods speed Harry. I worked on a drillhole over Harry's Lodge in 1983. He is 525 feet down if memory serves.

[@DebUno]

May Harry Rest With the Angels...never to be Forgotten. And to all those who died.

[@maureen669]

And Harry's cats...😥

[@caffienevaccine]

I think it’s said he let the cats out before the eruption because he didn’t know it was going to blow for good

[@jeffdavis5723]

*My father and I collected grass with ash on it in the state of Western Kentucky. Watched it on our television back then.* 😊

[@kevinroyall8829]

Volcanic eruptions are fantastic. They make for great television.