We have finally arrived in Washington state and have a few days before John goes to work at the JBLM in Tacoma. The campground sites here at Chehalis TT are very private with trees and thick vegetation between the sites. Eli and Jake are relaxing outside as we finish setting up.
I felt like I was in a cool-temperature Florida with all of the moss hanging from the trees.
This park has a decent dog park in it where Eli and Jake made friends with Auggie, a border collie mix.
With Mount St. Helen’s less than an hour’s drive away, we load up the dogs and go for a ride. Unfortunately, the day is a bit cloudy but we are able to get some good views of the mountain.
The roads to the main observatory and visitor center are closed due to snow and road damage but there are plenty of other opportunities for exploring.
The recovery of the area is still ongoing and you can see evidence of how the landslide impacted the terrain surrounding the mountain.
The national monument designated area directly surrounding Mt. St. Helens is being left to recover naturally, but the privately owned damaged by the eruption has been restored by the logging companies that own it.
Scientists studying the devastated environment thought life would return to the area in a gradual, step-by-step progression. They are instead surprised by the interaction between plants, insects, and animals to rebuild the environment.
It will be interesting to see what the area looks like in another twenty-years or more.
Good to see a post from you guys! I have missed your adventures.