Presented here of some photos of Mount St. Helens taken by Zeutenhorst family members from 1946–2009. A 1946 photo of Spirit Lake by Angie is followed by two photos from Bryan's first ascent of a dormant St. Helens in 1966. Fourteen years later on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted and ash rained down on the family farm on Naches Heights as thunderstorms menaced the sky throughout the day. Photos taken later in the week by Dan and Angie show the snow-like appearance of the fallen dust and ash. Five months later, they accompanied Richard and Catherine along the Toutle River on the west side of the mountain to see the damage done by the massive flow of ash and debris. In September 2009, Catherine and Richard returned to St. Helens to find thousands of trees toppled by the eruption still much in evidence, along with a new dome ominously arising within the shattered crater.
1980-05-19c_R02__s12 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash 1980-05-00 The fir tree along the driveway next to the house covered in St. Helens ash like a winter's snow.
1980-05-19c_R02_s11 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash 1980-05-00 The family car shelters in the carport.
1980-05-19c_R02_s13 Ranch-Snitz in Mount St Helens eruption ash 1980-05-00 Lynn's dog Snitz heads in from the little orchard with a good dusting of ash.
1980-05-19c_R02_s14 Ranch-St Helens Eruption Ash 1980-05-00 The neighbor's dogs survey the driveway leading up the hill to the storage sheds
1980-05-19c_R02_s15 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash-tractor 1980-05-00 Covered by a patina of ash, the Massey Furguson tractor awaits a driver.
1980-05-19c_R02_s16 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash 1980-05-00 On the upper driveway to the main road, the ash appears darker when wettened by the sprinklers watering the apple trees.
1980-05-19c_R02_s17 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash-truck 1980-05-00 At the top of the hill, "Old Blue" is blanketed with ash.
1980-05-19c_R02_s18 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash-swimming pool 19-980-05-00 The family pool awaits warmer days, covered by a black tarp anchored by pipe from the main line of the old sprinkter system. In the distance, dust hangs in the air.
1980-05-19c_R02_s19 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash-Magnolia Tree 1980-05-00 The magnolia tree behind the house frosted with ash.
1980-05-19c_R02_s20 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash 1980-05-00 Plants on the back lawn weighed down by the ash.
1980-05-19c_R02_s21 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash-RDZ 1980-05-00 Ray returns from work as the dust from his pickup wafts across the neighbor's orchard.
1980-05-19c_R02_s22 Ranch-Mount St Helens eruption ash 1980-05-00 A torrent of ash falls from the roof of the carport as seen from the family room of the house.
1980-10-26_R64_s27 Washington-Toutle River 1980-10-26 Barren stumps attest to the strength of the debris floods during the eruption on the west side of Mount St. Helens
1980-10-26_R64_s29 Washington-Toutle River 1980-10-26 Part of the Toutle River flood plain created by the eruption five months earlier.
1980-10-26_R64_s30 Washington-Toutle River 1980-10-26 Banks of the Toutle River show thick layers of the ash and debris that flowed down from the mountain.
1980-10-26_R64_s31 Toutle River-temporary road and bridge-CML AMS ADZ 1980-10-26 Angie, Dan, Catherine stop along the Toutle River beside a newly constructed road after crossing a temorary bridge.
1980-10-26_R64_s32 Washington-Toutle River-St Helens area 1980-10-26 The debris field along the Toutle River stretches into the distance.
1980-10-26_R64_s33 Toutle River-bridge pylon 1980-10-26 Two concrete pillars mark where a bridge once crossed the Toutle River.
1980-10-26_R64_s34 Washington-Toutle River-ADZ RVA 1980-10-26 Dan and Richard examine a gouge in the earth left by the flooding.
Green
20090909-DSC_0617 2009-09-09 A final view of Mount St. Helens and the vast debris field on its western flank.
Green
20090908-DSC_0541 2009-09-08 Some trees withstood the blast of the eruption but died from the searing heat.
Green
20090908-DSC_0427 1980-10-26 A new dome slowly forms within Mount St. Helen's crater.
Green
20090908-DSC_0396 1980-10-26 Trees slowly begin to reforest the desolate hills as the shattered crater of Mount St. Helens looms in the distance.
Green
20090908-DSC_0384 1980-10-26 The far side of Spirit Lake is jammed with trees felled by the eruption. Once forested hill sides remain largely barren of live trees.
Green
20090908-DSC_0379 2009-09-08 Once thickly forested hills slowly begin to revegetate.
Green
20090908-DSC_0359 2009-09-08 Following a narrow temporary road, Richard and Catherine return to Mount St. Helens from the east side.
1966-05-00 Bryan atop Mount St Helens 1966-05-00 A 17-year old Bryan completes his first ascent of St. Helens. A year later, he would complete a second climb in 70 mile-an-hour winds with a group of fellow Cascadians.
1966-05-00_s09 Dogs Head Mt St Helens-r 1966-05-00 Mount St. Helens awaits early morning climbers.
20090909-DSC_0673 2009-09-09 The Toutle River begins its flows to the Columbia River from the west side of St. Helens.
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
Green
