MT. ST. HELEN'S WASHINGTON SEPT. 2014

Had to drive a couple hours but well worth it. It's a must see place.

Our first stop on the way....oh boy, hiking!!   Mikey likes to hike!!


















It was really another rain forest. Very cool.

 water droplets on leaves!! no rain.

This is called a NURSE LOG.  After it's fallen, seeds get spread into the bark and grow on the tree.
These trees are hundreds and thousands of years old.  Some as old as 400,000 years.

So many varieties of ferns, lichens and mosses.  No wild life seen.  Did see a little squirrel run across path.

The wild life was waiting for us back at the coach and in town.  Elk.   Looking for food.  There had been a big flea market the past weekend.  All the tourists are gone so the elk come out once again.

Mt. St. Helen's last erupted Sept. 1980.  The blast blew out sideways at the speed of 3 miles in 40 secs.and ash blew all over the northwest. As tall as 15 miles into the air.

Film and loads of info at the visitors center.

 Flower farms and Christmas tree farms on the way.