Domino vs. the Volcano:
On our way to Butte Camp. Domino on the trail which winds through an ancient lava flow. In view: the towering South Face of Mount St. Helens and the dwarfed Butte Camp Dome. Find my trip report and more photos here. Headed to this neck of the woods in part because of the recent 30 year anniversary of the explosion and also for the solar exposure. Being buried in tree line on a sunny day would have been a disappointment. Massive washes and a recovering forest delivered the sun. And speaking of recovery, check out this 30 year sequence of satellite imagery from NASA documenting the process of succession in action.
Also, hands down the coolest thing I’ve ever seen denoted on a topographical map: “The Breech”. This of course referring to the massive explosion and collapse of the north face. Can’t wait to see this blow out with my very own eyes. Once things warm up and the snow melts, I’m considering hitting the Loowit trail which circumnavigates the mountain.
Domino in the Lava Fields of Three Sister Wilderness Area, OR. She looks dwarfed by the large black obsidian rocks and North Sister in the background. So ready for some high altitude. It’s been a mild winter thus far, that means more mountains sooner. Researching PCT in the Northern Cascades. Any multi-day recommends out there?