Mount Saint Helens

We were all amazed by Mount Saint Helens.  The views and stories from the 1980 blast were so interesting.  We visited the main visitor center looking at exhibits and a short film on the history of the site.   I'm so glad we visited.

On the road viewing the monument from the western side.  The views from the road included the burned "lava" river and so many semi-petrified trees still laying horizontal from the original blast.

 We've discovered we need more binoculars on our next trip!

From the northern side where the crater is visible.

We treated ourselves to "dinner out" that afternoon.  The trip to Mount Saint Helens was much longer than expected considering the long, winding road and a certain five-year-old who can't stop talking. (!)   We stopped in Elbe, a small historic town near Mount Rainier.  The boys thought dinner on the historic train car was funny.

The town of Elbe was founded by German immigrants.  The original Lutheran church was very quaint.  It seated about 20 people and even had stained-glass windows.   Go Lutherans!