01:13 PM PDT on Monday, May 16, 2005

By KARIN CZULIK, KING Staff

The violent explosion of Mount St. Helens that captured the world news in 1980 had almost been forgotten and the number of visitors to the mountain – the tourists, climbers, hikers and campers – was declining.

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Mount St. Helens woke up in time for its 25th anniversary.

But last fall the volcano began to wake up once again and with the new rumblings, tourists started to return in droves.

People from all over the world are once again traveling to southwestern Washington to catch a close-up view of North America’s most active volcano.

Over the past half year, Mount St. Helens has been spewing the occasional clouds of steam and ash, and has is now building a new dome.

Planning a visit

To be part of this historical event, treat yourself to visit.

The visitor centers or information stations are a good place to begin. There, interpretive staff can answer questions, inform about interpretive walks and talks, and help plan your visit.

Theater presentations also give good insight into the geologic, biologic, and cultural history of the area and just traveling through the area lets visitors be a part of this fascinating living laboratory.

Try to spend at least one full day driving east on Highway 504 and include stops at visitor centers and viewpoints along the way. And don't forget to sample a trail or two.

Two or more days in the area will let you experience the mountain from all sides and enjoy various outdoor recreation opportunities.

As you get closer to the volcano, you'll be able to still see the devastation from the 1980 eruption, but at the same time you can witness nature's amazing recovery.

Most viewpoints on the north, east, and south sides can be accessed from Memorial Day until usually in late October when snow closes the roads.

Trails are generally open from June through October, although some lower elevation trails can be hiked all year.

Visitor centers

Make the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake your first stop. Located 5 miles off Interstate 5, it offers excellent exhibits and a 16-minute film about the 1980 eruption.

The focus at the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, located at milepost 43, is the recovery of plant and animal life within the blast zone. The short Winds of Change Interpretive Trail explains the devastating effects of the eruption.

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At the Johnston Ridge Observatory, a wide-screen theater presentation concludes with the drapes opening revealing the view of the real mountain.

Geology is the focus at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which lies only 5 miles from the crater and is the closest center to the volcano. A wide-screen theater presentation concludes with the drapes opening revealing the view of the real mountain. Exhibits show geologic events and include eyewitness accounts of the eruption.

Both the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center and the Johnston Ridge Observatory offer stunning views into the volcano's crater.

The Charles W. Bingham Forest Learning Center, sponsored jointly by Weyerhaeuser, the Washington Department of Transportation, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, teaches about timber salvage and forest recovery activity since the eruption. There also is an elk viewpoint and a volcano-themed playground.

At Cowlitz County's Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center, you'll find various tourist activities, such as helicopter tours and llama rides.

The Memorial Grove at milepost 27, which honors the 57 people who died in the 1980 eruption, is a peaceful area for relaxation and reflection. There are good views of the Toutle River Valley mudflows.

On the south side of the mountain, along SR503, you can pass through the three communities of Ariel (where people still search for infamous D.B. Cooper's money), Yale and Cougar – the starting point to the Ape Caves, a labyrinth of lava tubes.

More information

Remember that views of the volcano depend on the weather, but even if you can't see the mountain, the experience of spending time in the blast zone is still worth the visit.

All major roads are closed within 5 miles of the volcano and there are no overnight accommodations within the National Volcanic Monument. However, lodging, meals, gifts, supplies and services are available in many communities around the mountain.

Mount St. Helens is currently closed to climbing due to volcanic activity. Volcanic conditions and hazards are reviewed and evaluated regularly. Also, many trails have been closed. Check with ranger or online to see which trails are affected.

The Mount Margaret backcountry, a permit-only area, will reopen as conditions permit.

Trail heads and interpretive centers in the northeast section of the monument require a Northwest Forest Pass.

Windy Ridge Viewpoint and other viewpoints on the mountain's south and east sides will reopen when snow removal and road repairs are complete.

All areas in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest outside the closure are still open to public access unless posted otherwise.

The Ape Cave is open year-round and the interpretive programs and lantern rentals will resume in June.

The Pine Creek Information Station will reopen in June.

For detailed information on permits, call 360-449-7800.

Special 25th anniversary events

"Hiking the Harmony Trail: Meditations on a Changing Landscape" – a photography exhibit at the Cowlitz Historical Museum in Kelso, open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 13 and featured through Sept. 30. For information, call 360-577-3119.

Stories from eyewitness survivors of the 1980 eruption is set for 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14 at Johnston Ridge Observatory in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. If the observatory is closed due to ongoing volcanic activity, the symposium will be at the Red Lion Hotel in Kelso.

Castle Rock commemorates the blast with a week of activities beginning May 14, including a volcano-building contest and Cowlitz Indians native food. On May 21, at a mock emergency disaster team station people can meet the volunteer radio operators who helped coordinate rescues during the 1980 blast. While visiting, view the graphic portrait of the history and culture of Castle Rock at the Exhibit Hall, and be sure to stop at the Harry Truman Memorial Park to read about the legendary Spirit Lake resort owner who refused to abandon his home to Mount St. Helens. For information, call the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce at 360-274-6603.

25th Anniversary at the Cowlitz County Regional Convention Center, May 20-21, Cowlitz County Expo Center, Longview.

"Echoes of Fury: The 1980 Eruption of Mount St. Helens and the Lives it Changed Forever" – a presentation by author Frank Parchman at 2 p.m. May 15 at the Cowlitz Historical Museum in Kelso. For information, call 360-577-3119.

Free admission day May 18 at the Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument, including visitors centers on the 25th anniversary of the eruption.

"Portland in Context: Reflecting on Mount St. Helens" – a lecture by poet Gary Snyder at 7:30 p.m. May 18 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway, Portland. Tickets start at $19.50. For information call 503-227-2583 or visit www.Literary-Arts.org.

Cascades Volcano Observatory, run by the U.S. Geological Survey, has an open house 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. May 21, located at 1300 S.E. Cardinal Court, Building 10, Suite 100, in Vancouver. Scientists talk about their work, display their research and discuss Mount St. Helens and the other Northwest volcanoes.

Seattle Aquarium has been showing the 21-minute long "The Eruption of Mount St. Helens" in the Big Dome since 1980 – a great way to marvel at the awesome power of nature.

Tour de Blast, bike ride from Toutle up to Johnston Ridge, June 15. For information call 360-749-2192 or visit www.TourDeBlast.com.