Here's a shot from one of my favorite spots on Johnston Ridge. The Indian Paintbrush and other wildflowers add color to the foreground. Nearly 2 thousand feet below, you can see the Toutle River. And Mt. St. Helens is looming to the right. The river cuts through the ash and debris from the eruption 45 years ago. This shot is a few years old. I can't get a new one because a landslide closed the highway to the Lewit Viewpoint and the Johnston Ridge Visitors Center. They hope to have it reopened in 2027. By the way, those areas of green in the valley are tall trees. It's a long way down!

A special note to Joaquin:  I still can't get through to your blog on any of my browsers.  Frustrating.
 

Here's another shot on Johnston Ridge from a few years back. It will be 2027 before the road gets fixed. and we can go up there again. But when that picture was taken, it had been 42 years since the volcanic explosion blew it down along with thousands of others. I bet it's still there.

 

I took this picture three years ago on Johnston Ridge, the best place for views into Mt. St. Helens' caldera. The Indian Paintbrush grows like crazy there, and the remains of a giant tree blown over in the blast 45 years ago dominate this picture. I'm sad to say we haven't been able to go back up there since May of 2023, when a massive landslide closed the highway. The damage was severe, and a new bridge is being built, but repairs will take until 2027. I'm glad we have our pictures to look at.

 

This is a chipmunk. They like to hang out with tourists and beg for goodies to eat. There are always some at the wetlands walk, and I love watching them.

 

This is just part of a huge flower farm next to the Cowlitz River, near Toledo, Washington. Even without the blooms, it's nice to see.

 

Come on, people, let's straighten up and fly right!

 

It's me! The king of the backyard! I can see everything from here! We rarely see our harmless little garden snakes anymore-- the trees and bushes have made it too shady for them to sun themselves.

 

Resting near the tracks... We have a number of pioneer graveyards in the area-- and it's always interesting to see the names and dates. There are many who fought in the Civil War, and the many that followed. The saddest thing is that all older graveyards have a large number of children under 5. We've come a long way in the last 100 years.

 

have you ever wondered what it's like under the bridge?

 

He doesn't get out much anymore, but the birds sit on him, and the flowers like to hear him talk about the old days.

 

Rain on the way...

 

Time warp! We saw this perfect old car in a little town about 20 miles north of us.

 

The sun sets on another family farm...

 

There's a dreamlike quality to how this picture turned out-- especially since the clouds are hiding the mountain's blown-off top. You can easily imagine a pointy top, just like most of the other Cascade volcanoes. We're looking across the wetlands to Silver Lake, with Mt. St. Helens looming in the distance.

 

Hello--- Anybody home?

 

Like a princess surrounded by loving subjects...

 

His songs are very colorful today...

 

Everything grows in the deepest parts of the forest. The moss grows on the trees, and ferns grow in the moss! It's another way nature seems to say things will be alright.

 

I don't know what that is growing on the side of that tree, but it doesn't look happy...

 

Hidden...

 

Getting that last drop...

 

Leave the horrible noise behind...

 

Let's go this way...

 

I love the colors in this part of the forest.

 

Looking for dinner...

 

It's a good day to do... nothing at all!

 

There is a heavy shower in the hills, but the sun is lighting up the trees here. I love the poofy little cloud.

 

Kissing in the dark...

 

Beautiful rhododendrons and rustic birdhouses! Perfect for Spring!

 

This would all have been on the INSIDE of a mountain 50 years ago. You're looking at the inside of the Mt. St. Helens caldera. The north face of the mountain literally blew off in an eruption just over 45 years ago: May 18th, 1980. The mountain is endlessly fascinating.

 

A place for forest creatures-- of all kinds! Maybe even some pixies...

 

A beautiful Barrow's Goldeneye duck all by himself on Coldwater Lake.

 

Oh look! Somebody planted a goose!

 

The happy bee is humming his springtime song...

 

From a little flower to the mighty ocean-- take the time to really see what's around you.

 

Quiet time at Coldwater Lake-- It's a whole other world.

 

Glowing, even in the twilight...

 

Look out, world, here I am!

 

You meet the nicest critters at twilight in the wetlands-- like this beaver!

 

What a lovely sight it is when the water plants start popping up again in the wetlands.

 

Uh... I don't think I'm doing this right!

 

The gull caucus just got the word-- buy now!

 

It's Spring! And everything is growing, flowering, eating, or just looking for someone to poke with a thorn!

 

The wild roses are back!

 

Showers this evening...

 

Nothing seems quite so bad when you stand in front of a waterfall!

 

The late afternoon sun works its magic in the forest...

 

Just an old shed, but it's still standing!

 

The raven dreams in color...

 

It isn't much, but someone used to live here...