The Most Important Eruption in US History

[@DaveTexas]

I was in middle school when this eruption happened. We lived about 2,000 miles away, but I remember the ash coating cars and other surfaces. Not a thick layer of ash, but enough that it made our family’s cars look dirty. I had trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that a volcano in Washington could eject so much ash that it was falling many states away.

[@mas5867]

You must have lived in a small pocket in OK. Most of the detectable ash did not fall that far away.

[@ey3z4ya]

​@@mas5867 most of it, sure, but Oklahoma WAS one of the most distant states to receive minor ashfall

[@mas5867]

@@ey3z4ya That's why I said a small pocket that DID get detectable ash.

[@dr.froghopper6711]

We got a light dusting in central New Mexico.

[@donalddeluxe6407]

Let’s pray rainier won’t explode.

[@lightonthehill8548]

Honestly, in the context of Mount Saint Helens's enormous eruption, the line "nothing matches the map" is so incredibly chilling, especially as, what sounds like, a genuine reaction from radio chatter.

[@CortexNewsService]

What always boggles my mind is the eruption was relatively small. It was "only" a 5 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index

[@PABadger13]

That's original audio from a helicopter flight into the blast zone from the first days following the eruption. I think, but am not completely sure, that it's from the day of the eruption, during the search and rescue phase - an embedded reporter (before that was a phrase) taping the pilots as they searched for survivors. The second tape is Gerry Martin, a ham radio operator killed in the eruption, and constitutes part of his final radio transmission.

[@argynews2825]

You should think about Yellowstone that volcano carved out a huge crater in THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAIN that is located right in the middle of mountain and the lava chamber is ginormous Mt Saint Helens didn’t even get close to the amount of cubic feet of material moved by Yellowstone

[@independentskarab7775]

@@CortexNewsService To be fair anything with a VEI >=4 can probably be called 'large', considering the amount of material that they erupt. VEI 6 and onward are so large due to the nature of the logarithmic scale however that things get blown out of proportion quickly and eruptions like mt st helens' (DRE of 0.25 km^3) seem small.

[@Noticeable_Reclaimer]

@@argynews2825 I've been there, when you're at the Geyser and the cabin there you can see the hills in the distance forming a wall, you're inside this giant crater, that takes 3 hours to drive across, really mind boggling.

[@gryph0n55]

Shoutout to the Mt Saint Helens Observatory where they have that theatre that plays the min-doc about Mt St Helens and then at the end it shows the mountain as it used to be, then the screen goes up, and the curtains pull apart, revealing the backwall behind the screen is actually a giant window, and Mount Saint Helens is perfectly framed in it. That shit is magical, they get an A+ for that.

[@nomercyinc6783]

its theater

[@gryph0n55]

@@nomercyinc6783 the amount of care I have is so low that mathematics doesn’t have a number small enough to represent the amount of care I have about the spelling, shut the fuck up

[@gryph0n55]

@@nomercyinc6783 I don’t care, I care so little that Mathematics doesn’t have a number small enough to represent how little I give a shit, stfu

[@misternarwhalart]

I was there when they did that but it was one of the foggiest days on record and as soon as the curtain pulled up it was just straight white 😢

[@gryph0n55]

@@nomercyinc6783 you cannot fathom how little I care

[@pnw8836]

I’m fairly local to Saint Helen’s, living only 1.5 hours away. I see it every time I drive to town on a clear day. The landscape around it is truly unmatched, and it’s amazing to see how much it has rebounded with life. I use it as a personal reminder that no matter how bad things get, there’s always an opportunity for things to get better.

[@debbylou5729]

Centralia? Chehalis?

[@childofcascadia]

1.5? I'd guess like Trout Lake.

[@SomuaSomua]

I can see it from my high school

[@pnw8836]

@@childofcascadia Yacolt! Should have clarified, 1.5 hours from the north side, but much closer to the south side

[@colbymarsh2074]

​@@pnw8836im from vancouver. This state has some political issues, but it is gorgeous

[@jaredfilms]

Loved the story telling, great work! Also that match cut @ 0:50 was incredibly executed

[@connorthompson05]

Totally agree. That was epic.

[@M4xXxIkInG]

even tho its kinda hard to believe thats those two trees remained EXACTLY the same down to the last branch over all those years not to mention the shockwave :D

[@TheSilentpigs100]

@@M4xXxIkInG thought they woulda got alittle bigger by now amazing tho

[@amogus205]

@@M4xXxIkInG its obviously photoshopped to make a nicer transition. the foreground is the current one just the background and st. helens was edited in. (which is totally fine, no shade imo an awesome transition)

[@kiefcoffee]

A "most replayed" moment for suree

[@ericmattt]

The cut at 0:50 was one of my favorite things I’ve ever seen. So well done dude 🔥

[@luisfilms]

and the suspense build and sfx right before the cut made it 10 times better too.

[@IAF1900]

@@luisfilms Totally agree! It was really powerful

[@M4xXxIkInG]

it was really nice until i noticed that the two trees have to be photoshopped into the black/white picture :D

[@celticlass8573]

@@M4xXxIkInG The match was the background, not the foreground.

[@Ninkira]

Still a little disappointing though 😭

[@cameronkirk8453]

Oh man that cut at 0:50 was great. Absolutely loved this video

[@wcoleman5555]

kirk cameron?? THE kirk cameron???? say hi to candace for me!!

[@LennonMapes]

This is by far one of your best pieces of educational/documentary style work yet. Incredible storytelling and meaningful compositions throughout. Super well done Aidin!

[@Jessica_Costantini]

have you checked out his recent Redwood Forrest vid? amazing!!!

[@ProximaCentauri88]

I super agree. This is also the first video on Youtbe where I saw great shots of Mt. Saint Helens before the eruption.

[@shadowelii]

found this channel only a mere 30 minutes ago and i am just in awe of the cinematography/your way with the camera. and the way you tell the facts and stories. like damn, that shot from 0:48 - 0:54 hits like a gut punch, along with the background radio broadcast.

[@Sirmellowman]

my mom and my grandparents use to go to spirit lake every year. they said it was pure paradise, hands down the most beautiful spot on the planet. and she could not believe what it looked like after the eruption. the familty was on their way there on the day of the eruption and almost got caught in a bad situation but luckily they shut the roads down before she could make it in too far.

[@wherethehoochiesat4210]

They knew of the danger and decided to still go that day? Natural selection almost slapped y’all

[@suleymanemrezeytin922]

It's very nice of you to add subtitles. Thank you. So people from all cultures can follow you. Greetings from Turkey. 👋

[@ericmattt]

I remember being absolutely awestruck by this place as a kid. So awesome to see you doing this place justice 🙏

[@angelllortiz]

The match cut of pre-eruption to you walking down the same field was immaculate man

[@johnchedsey1306]

I first visited Mt. St. Helens as a kid in 1983 and it was foggy, creepy and dead looking. My next visit was in 2006 when I moved to Washington and made a trip (or two) there almost every year after that till moving away in 2021. The difference every spring in greenery and growth was quite noticeable, and the difference between 2006 and 2020 was incredible. It does help that the Pacific Northwest is all about green and plant growth, of course.

[@Sepheus13]

My mother lived through the eruption. Living in Portland 75 miles away. She always said it it was a serine destruction. The amount of ash that coated the cars seemed like snow. She and my grandmother collected a few film canisters of it. I was born 15 years later on May 18th. Always called me her Volcano baby. And now I have one of those film canisters sitting in my case. Great video. I love the area so much. Thanks for capturing so many of the feelings you get from standing on that ground.

[@emmahealy4863]

*serene? Serine is an amino acid

[@Sepheus13]

@@emmahealy4863 That would be the word. Thanks for the correction, Lol.

[@Commander_35]

Lol. Even though no one cares and no one asked, I'm born in May 19th 😂 so just a day apart.

[@christinacody8653]

My Aunt and Uncle did similar, and I received a vial of it to use as an example of ash on my science fair exhibit on volcanoes.

[@AirShark95]

Very neat mini-documentaries! The research combined with the stunning camera work and production quality makes for a very enjoyable and educational experience! If these sorts of topics are something you want to continue making, perhaps having a video on the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the potential future megaquake it could unleash could be a very interesting topic. I'm sure you'll be able to capture the beauty and power of the PNW coastline in a very captivating way! Keep up the wonderful work!

[@AidinRobbins]

Cascadia Subduction Zone video will definitely be happening at some point- just a matter of finding a constructive way to do it considering it's SUCH bad news. Terrifying but fascinating

[@thomasellis7625]

I went to Mt St Helen’s every other year from 2005 or 6, to 2014 or 15. It’s incredible to have seen everything bounce back so quickly, from the first trips seeing spirit lake still almost entirely covered by logs, to now just a fraction of it, or the standing dead forest turning to a living, green forest again. Certain objects like the miners car, of which mostly the chrome is all that’s left now. And of course the ever interesting caves and tree molds. Mount St Helen’s is probably one of the most spectacular things you can see in the continental US

[@GP2_engine_14]

Two weeks ago I discovered your channel randomly, your Fire Lookout video was suggested to me on the front page. Your channel quickly became one of my favorites and I hope you will be able to do this for a long time to come. The research and work you put in these videos is admirable.

[@clawthewonderful1520]

love this. some of the shots here genuinely feel like a big budget sci fi movie on some distant planet. great work.

[@kaifalkenberg3378]

This was awesome! I grew up in WA and have spend so much time around both Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier. I love these mountains, thank you for doing such an outstanding job telling their stories to the world

[@michaelkantner6420]

Great video! My parents had two pictures of Spirit Lake, before and after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. It was so drastic, the difference between the two. I was 13 at the time of the eruption, and it was all over the news, about the ash cloud, about how the landscape changed so much it didn't even look like the Earth, it resembled the moon more than anything else.

[@theGentlemanCaller73]

This was an amazing doc. Thank you for making it. Our earth is an incredible thing.

[@azzikko2688]

I hiked on the pumice plains with my family when I was about 10 years old, around 2001 or so. It was very cool, a whole other type of world above the clouds. We saw lizards, the only tiny lizards I have seen in the north in my whole life. We also saw the ghost forest of standing burned trees and the lake still full of fallen logs, which really impressed me. Very cool place. We have a magnet that has ash inside collected from the eruption, and it's so full of iron particles that sometimes it gets stuck to the magnet on the back of the container too.

[@thomasshealy962]

Incredible, Aidin! The opening and final shots were absolutely stunning. It's amazing that you got to see Mt. St. Helens and the Cascades, and I can't wait to see which corner of the globe you'll be covering next!

[@bbacalhau]

This is so well put together! Loved it!

[@dankdude5615]

👍

[@zakkaryzoah1386]

I’ve watched quite a few videos about MSH. Yours is particularly well written and thoughtful. Thanks for posting it.

[@willhandy5345]

Well done. I was an adult when St. Helens blew, and I’ve been, briefly, to the site. Volcanology is one of my lifelong interests. You taught me stuff I hadn’t known, and your presentation was moving.

[@StrobeFireStudios]

Your videos are absolutely stunning.

[@topdragonmusic567]

Even though I've lived about 30-45 minutes from Mt. St. Helens most of my life, and learned about it extensively in school, I still marvel at the videos and photos of the eruption. Such a powerful natural event. It's pretty cool to look at from the visitors centers when the weather is clear.

[@SWExplore]

Aidin, I am so very impressed with your work, not only in this video about Mt. Saint Helen's but with every video that I've watched. You are already well recognized as a talented videographer, narrator, and director of your presentations. I'm so glad I found your channel!!

[@Claudio89DK]

0:50 those trees have litterally not changed at all damn

[@Ninkira]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm lollll

[@anoobwithnolifesed]

underrated comment

[@2fastGEO]

someone finally realized. Its the survivor tree of this event.

[@whoknowsnotme]

The black and white photo is edited, it doesn't appear on reverse image search and every leaf and flower is in the exact same place as over 44 years later which is impossible. Still an amazing bit of work but I think it's giving people the wrong idea

[@PattPlays]

1:08 oh wow........ *it looks like Reach..!*

[@guntisbalodis7658]

Dude, love your new concept and editing! Looks kinda similar to Johnny Harris’s style, but in the end - your own! Nice job! Keep it up! ❤

[@StreakedSilver]

Simple, Short, Elegant, Well done, to the point. I like this sir, I like this mighty fine. In an era when KZbinrs try to have an hour long video about stuff, you did this short but lovely video covering the topics you intended to in a good easy and pleasant way. I must assign this "A total Vibe"

[@jaseg6673]

That transition at 0:55 has to be the best I’ve ever seen in any film, I had to watch it over and over

[@seth-nj2vw]

I have seen a few videos on this topic, but you really did an amazing job with this one! Awesome video!

[@jasond2333]

I went as a little kid in the late 2000s. I still remember some things like the trees in the lake. Only time ive been that far west

[@camaslindbeck1985]

Hey Aidin, This is exactly what I am looking for on this platform. I think it’s super cool that you’re into these landscapes and the issues surrounding them. I’ve got some similar ideas for videos around this genre that I’m interested in making. Keep it up!

[@vsznry]

Very well framed story & well produced video.

[@IAF1900]

Super informative, super chill, super viby, super well edited. Discovering the US with these videos is super entertaining!

[@kevindiossi]

Incredible work here, Aidin. Earth is alive and very powerful - it deserves our respect and understanding. I can't even begin to imagine what Earth was like when there was more seismic activity and volcanoes and earthquakes were constantly changing the topography of the planet. This is just a single eruption impacting a massive space!

[@EarthUncutTV]

Lovely video Aidin, really great stuff!

[@SvendleBerries]

I was born in 1983 and have been into everything surrounding this eruption for as long as I can remember. Growing up not far from the mountain Ive visited it many times. Its been awesome to grow up and observe the regrowth of the area as its happening. Nature is an amazing thing. Excellent video, Aidin :D

[@kristinb5121]

I live in Portland and was here during the eruption. It was't a surprise. They'd been having zones of access and warnings for weeks. Those days masks weren't widely available and I wish I'd had some. I remember having to pull over to brush off the windshield when driving to work and get the roof swept. We didn't get the heavy ash, but it was still a couple of inches deep. It drifted in slowly over a few days. It was so light even walking would stir up a cloud. It was all very hazy. The most amazing thing was driving up near the mountain 6 mos to a year later and seeing all the trees bent over, all facing the same direction. Not a couple, like a thousand. That was before anything had started growing again. Words really can't describe it.

[@demark365]

Great editing, loved the quick before and after slides, really helped put it into perspective!

[@UsernameInvalid48]

Really cool to see the area finally starting to heal and get some new trees. Back in 2008 when I climbed it as a teenager there were barely any sapplings

[@soflyedits322]

this kind of video is exactly why youtube was created. thank you for taking this trip to mount st. helens, and for sharing the journey and history you've learned with the rest of us. it is much appreciated!

[@tarnocdoino3857]

This is the perfect video to softly bring since and history together on the modern tech age. Great shots of the current area, loved the old postcards, and the theme music was perfect. It felt lonely and hopeful at the same time. Motivating.

[@ClintWestVood]

My mom was 20 miles away working at a restaurant and remembers the amount of ash that fell. over 2ft, she still has some and she also had some melted into a pipe. pretty interesting.

[@RickBebbington]

So good man!! I visited this place in 1984 but don't remember it unfortunately as I was only 2 - still have lots of my Dad's photos of it though. Hoping to get back in the next couple of years with my kids. BTW, that cut at 0:50 was all sorts of good - had to watch it back a few times!!

[@peterdwyer1601]

For such a young presenter you do a great job, Aidin - good clear voice and presentation, well paced and you convey a great respect and love of creation. Looking forward to more of your presentations. Congratulations young man. Best wishes from Australia.

[@touchstoneaf]

Welp, I just subscribed to you, one of the fastest times I've ever hit that button. You touched on things that no one else has when they talk about this eruption, I cheered when youtalked about ecological succession and all of that, and how it's changed what we understand about preservation of natural biomes. You are on top tier for that. Fantastic job. Can't say enough good things.

[@adventuresofjandk]

We plan to be there here in a few weeks. Can’t wait to put together a video of the adventure.

[@mariahsfindlay]

the shots in this were absolutely stunning!

[@shoto42]

I had the chance to summit St Helen’s about a year ago, wasn’t able to get to the summit but I was able to hang out in the bowl of the mountain. It was eerie and my group just sat silent a couple of minutes to take it all in. The landscapes from that point of view was crazy and I’ll never forget it. Though I do plan on going back up there since I wasn’t able to summit it and ever since then I’ve felt this need to go back up there. It has this pull that I feel every mountain has, but each one is special I feel like, like I live near Mt Hood here in Oregon and there’s this weird connection I get from it that no other mountain has. It’s the same thing with Helens, it has this pull that is irresistible like it’s beckoning for you to come.

[@drewsimms]

Story telling is next level man! Awesome video as usual

[@JAHDFILMS]

Very beautiful shots!!

[@jack1701e]

That cut at 0:50 is chilling. A reminder that we live on top of powers so SO much greater and more destructive that we can create. All that lava, pressure and energy under the crust... frightening.

[@dontbethatguy783]

Insane that this video only has 50k views. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography, and great story telling on a very interesting topic. Thanks for making it regardless.

[@lorenz_paulus]

Great video! I like where you’re taking your channel; those more documentary-flavored videos are a pleasure to watch-and they still offer a lot for learning how to attract and maintain viewer attention during longer, more informative sequences.

[@bch9124]

I was seven years old in Spokane, WA, when Mt. St. Helens erupted and dumped three inches of ash across the Inland Empire, turning mid-day to night. I spent the following five years easily making 300 erupting volcanoes in my sandbox using a garden hose, Hot Wheels, stick bridges, and small action figures to get washed away over and over through the sand-formed hills and valleys. I guess it was my form of play therapy to process such an impactful and powerful natural disaster. It was remarkable to visit the mountain thirty years later, and it was a big part of my inspiration to become a counselor to help others process through trauma.

[@lavenderandwine]

I know this video is a year old as of me typing this but, but wanted to share as someone who grew up in southeast Kansas, as did my parents. My mother was graduating high school that day. Everyone during the ceremony thought a nuclear bomb had gone off. They didn't know what had happened until later that evening on the news, mind you the area my mom grew up in was marginally bigger than the one I did of 60 people so small farming communities. My mom STILL remembers all of it. I picked up some helenite for her once when my previous job at a crystal store had had it. I also have a piece (I just really love obsidian honestly and am fascinating by how it's created).

[@ajbwalla123]

I live in Longview, and on a clear day can see the mountain peaking over the surrounding mountains when I leave the house to run errands. She is massive. I always smile when I see her and say, "There's my mountain". Just glad her giant crater is on her northern flank and not pointed at us. I just wish I were here in 1980 to see her erupt. A drive to the mountain is amazing winding roads constantly changing in elevation. Once you get close enough and can see her, it is just amazing.

[@Seawa5]

The beauty of your documentary almost brought me to tears. I have lived in Washington state my whole life. Thank you for contributing something poetic to the story of Mt St Helens.

[@Davn]

Really cool video, love your story telling abilities!

[@Kevnslife]

Blown away by the visuals and the way you explain everything!

[@stevenweatherman7325]

Wow! I love your work, editing, and aesthetic. That was good storytelling.

[@chascona9393]

I absolutely love the transition at 0:50, great cinematography!

[@McDoBoi]

Once again, amazing video. I could listen to your narration for days.

[@REIDiculous64]

I live about a 12 hour drive from St.Helens up in Edmonton, Canada my dad says he say the pillar of ash from the eruption, that was when he was in middle school.

[@mlegrand]

Your videos deserve the full screen treatment. 🙌🏻 Well done as always Aidin 👏🏻

[@dmn5384]

The editing in this short doc is nothing short of gangsta. Effin Genius editing, black washing to turn the page, dialogue supporting the imagery while allowing imagery continue to be the storyteller, music staying out of the way- Really should be super proud of yourself.

[@Libby9111]

I love everything about this. The story and cinematography are incredible

[@connorthompson05]

Just by being subscribed to your channel, I'm learning a ton recently with your videos such as this one. Keep it coming Aidin! I specifically enjoy your style of beautiful shots juxtaposed to the shots of the volcano erupting. Crazy what a difference! And your well thought out composition at the beginning looking at the before, then the after had me compelled to continue.

[@zerakhu]

The flow in your vids are amazing ❤

[@williambk]

This is hands down your best work on this channel so far! Fantastic job, man.

[@ammer8566]

I think the young man that made this video should have a lucrative career narrating videos. The tone and rhythm of his voice is so easy to listen to and absorb. A natural talent.

[@chris_3729]

Thx for the really nice video. I never thought I would like this type of content, but I really enjoyed it and will definitly watch more.

[@vilious]

Incredibly impressed you managed to recreate this shot with so much accuracy 0:48

[@haiperbus]

it's photoshop bro, the trees and flowers being the same since 40 years ago? lmao, also they're standing right in the path of the landslide, those trees are new

[@NelsonDellis]

Awesome edit

[@AmazingTNT]

0:50 that transition was so smooth... smart to use the modern foreground to make it look more realistic

[@esforever1790]

I'm so happy you're blowing up. Seriously underrated content

[@redtsun67]

Come to Washington State today! We have: -Forests -A jungle -A tundra -A desert -Cataclysmic volcanic eruptions -Seattle Inquire with the Washington Tourism Department to claim your free pumice stone and clean heroine needle today!

[@jaker.astrophotography8076]

The drone footage is really great, good video!

[@philiphatton]

Fascinating story. Brilliantly executed. Thank you for sharing.

[@SeatLeonMK2]

0:52 that switch and camera angle is so good, you have to had done tons of work to get the same location as the camera in the first photo!

[@xjp1998]

I was a kid when Mt. Saint Helens blew its top, and we all watched it live on tv. It was a massive disaster. In 87, we visited the area, and I can tell you from your film that the dome in the middle of the mountain was not there in 87. The mountain is regrowing

[@uzuart]

I found your channel one week ago, you don't know how much I love your videos, you're an inspiration for me now

[@Zac_Cole]

Your story telling and the visuals gave me chills. It's so cool.

[@axelflo3022]

Something I noticed in this video, oddly, is that the ad read in this felt more enjoyable to watch than others. The music helped imo

[@farrukhtahir4010]

Amazing 👌 Aiden, I used to watch your videos for learning videography and editing, but I learn so much with these new videos and through your story telling

[@CaseyPattersonOlympian]

This was so well done. Congrats and thank you for putting so much detail into the history of St. Helens

[@FakeSuspect]

I loved the video! Your story telling in on point to listen to on a gloomy rainy day! Its so comfy watching this!

[@williamalexanderr]

Insane story that I wasn’t unaware of ! The amount of research you’ve done is greatly appreciate it because I wouldn’t know where to even start ! Love the pacing of this video and everything else that came along with it 🙌

[@DaBlazesUSay]

Aidin, I am so glad that you are sharing these stories with young people today. Keep up the good work!

[@RonitBatra]

bruh this is so beautifully documented. great work ❤️

[@AluminumOxide]

0:47 that seamless transition from 1980 to now seems unchanged and surreal (except the volcano fo course), and those trees on either side haven’t grown since.

[@e87117]

"No one expected the ecosystem to bounce back so fast" I am old enough to remember when this happened and plenty of people said on TV that the ecosystem would bounce back fast, because in the thousands of years of written human history there are many accounts of the richness of volcanic soil and often times farmers would claim land around recently erupted volcanos for this reason. I don't know if this was just a poetic flourish, but historically it's inaccurate.

[@lkevincurry]

Great Vid Aidin! Love your approach to film making. Top Notch!

[@davidwebster2616]

I just came across all your content Aidin, great work!