The story attached to this blog has brought back some chilling memories of my own relating to Mount St. Helens. I’ll share them here. http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/12/mount_st_helens_new_photos_eme.html#incart_m-rpt-2 The story tells of pictures that the late Reid Blackburn took in April 1980, a month before the mountain blew apart. He was a staff photographer for the Vancouver (Wash.) … Continue reading Mount St. Helens pictures stir scary memory→
PORTLAND, Ore. — Those who live in this part of the world have a saying that seems to be unique to them. When the sun is out and the clouds are gone, they will say, “The Mountain is out.” Meaning, of course, Mount Hood, the 11,245-foot sentinel that towers about 50 miles to the east … Continue reading Mountains aren’t ‘out’→
“Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!” Those probably were the last words ever uttered — 30 years ago today — by a young geologist, David Johnston, who was blown into oblivion by Mount St. Helens. Johnston was manning an observation point not far from the volcano when he radioed those words to the U.S. Geological Survey … Continue reading Remembering a mountain→
Even when you grow up in the shadow of a string of volcanic peaks, you hardly ever expect to see one of them explode … at least I never expected it! But it did. In a big way 43 years ago to this very day. Mount St. Helens, one of those peaks about 50 or … Continue reading Never thought I’d see this→
WINNEMUCCA, Nev. — Take a good look at the picture you see with this brief post. What don’t you see? Time’s up! You don’t see a cloud in the sky. Nothin’, man! Clear blue sky from horizon to horizon to horizon to horizon. It took me a while on this westward journey Toby and the … Continue reading Finally … the sun shines!→
When you grow up in a part of the world full of natural beauty highlighted by snowcapped peaks all along your eastern horizon, you take for granted that they’ll always be there … as in always. Forty years ago today, that notion changed for those of us who lived west of the Cascade Range, a … Continue reading ‘Vancouver, Vancouver … this is it!’→
Everyone appreciates recognition. We appreciate especially when it comes from one’s peers. My journalism career wasn’t full of such recognition. I have said I enjoyed some modest success over 37 years as a reporter and editor of daily newspapers. One such moment presented itself early in my careers. The Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association in 1981 … Continue reading Time of My Life, Part 39: Beating out the big guys→
I long have been proud to say that my career allowed me to do things that most folks don’t get to do . . . such as fly over an erupting volcano! But in late March 1980, I had that singular honor thrust on me. You’ve heard of the cataclysm that occurred on May 18, … Continue reading Time of My Life, Part 4: Staring down a volcano→
I admitted something to friends that I want to share with you here. The admission was that I tend to wallow too much with the negative aspects of my departure from a career I enjoyed and I devote too little conscious attention to all the good times, the fun and the rewards that the career … Continue reading Happy Trails, Part 131: Recalling the good times→
Most of those of us who live in the 48 contiguous United States of America don’t have to worry about the forces of nature that are putting the folks of Hawaii in such peril at the moment. Kilauea is erupting on the island of Hawaii. It’s showing no sign of letting up. It’s covering streets … Continue reading Kilauea produces thrills and fright→
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