(Or anyone else here for that matter).

I know you mention being near the Far Larger and more Dangerous Mt Ranier. But Helens of course is not terribly that much farther away. And chances are great that you were under some pretty heavy Ashfall ! (even *if* perhaps a little West of Helens, -prevailing Winds blowing the great mass of it Eastward). Have you either Directly or Indirectly witnessed St Helen's Eruption or mighty Ashcloud, -perhaps some distance away? (if you were even in the general Washington / Oregon vicinity at the time).

If you don't mind answering, -about how old were you at the time? (May 18, 1980) (I was late 22).

I was of course Far to the East, at the time, -here in Southwestern PA (my Beloved Washington County), -Clear over on the other end of the North American Continent. (You're Washington State, I'm Washington County <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />).

Thus I could only catch it in print Media and Newscasts. But Man of course was that ever Something! Even if only a Pipsqueak by Volcanic Standards! I mean it was no Crater Lake, Pinatubo,Toba, or Tambora!....Speaking of such Print Media of the Time, -Two Great ones are a "Grey Covered Newsweek" I've seen at the time, -and most certainly the National Geographic which came out some months later, -revolving around and featuring the Event. Especially that Great Foldout of the Blast therein!, -No diminishment meant to any of the Rest. Including their Map of the Blowdown zone!, -Just Look at that!!!

Ash *did* of course come here to the East, -if not readily Detectable or Visible.

I *did* however Directly Experience our Mt St Helens Experience!, in one way. Twas some months or so thereafter, -when I had the Nice Little Pleasure of coming across packets of Mt St Helens Ash, -at a Quiosque at the Mall. For only a buck, -I obviously Snapped one up! Twas about the size of a smaller Tuna Pouch you might find in the stores nowadays, -Transparent of course so as to be able to "see the Product".

To say the least, Chances are overwhelming that it was Genuine. Had exactly that same Gray as in any of the Photos. Plus otherwise Looked like it!, -I so knew in my Gut. And with this "Product" so Readily Available from the Pacific Northwest on Eastward, -Why Not do the Real Thing!?, -Why bother doing a Fake Job? And so I can Safely and Overwhelmingly assume that it was Genuine!, -the Real Deal!

Alas!, -between the various Sordid personal Problems and Preoccupations that I had in Life, -many Un-asked for, -I've Regrettably long since Lost!, -that Prized enuff of a Possession! -Genuine Mt St Helens Ash!

Last but not least,-while I Love and continue to Hold a Place in my Heart!, -for our Mt St Helens Experience!, -I'm flat out Indifferent to somewhat Disliking, -of the Name itself! (just something Personal, -and it has nothing to do with any Helens!). Nearly all Volcanos have some Really Neat, Apt, and Spandiferous Names! To me personally, -Mt St Helens just does Not!

But Name aside, -What an Experience and Memory Mt St Helens 1980 was!!!!!

What more or less Direct Personal Experience have you or others maybe had with it?!?

(And any other Volcano or Earthquake & the like, -would also do!). [color:"black"] [/color] [email]ScottRezaLogan[/email]