Programs
Education
“Ridge to Ridge: Geology and Memories in the Heart of the Blast Zone”
Instructor: Brittany Brand
August 4 (evening campout)- August 5
This all-inclusive field seminar will begin with a meet up at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake near Castle Rock, WA. We will transfer your camping gear to a van which will take it to our field camp where we will end up (you don’t have to carry your stuff). From there, we will proceed to Johnston Ridge Observatory, where we will have a discussion of the geologic events leading to the May 18, 1980 eruption with our instructor, Brittany Brand. Following the Boundary Trail, we’ll head down to the Pumice Plain where many surprises await. We’ll view the pyroclastic flows, observe Spirit Lake up close, enjoy colorful and abundant wildflowers and even hike to a stunning waterfall of glacial ice melt. The hike will end at Windy Ridge, a short bus ride away from our luxurious field camp where meals, libations, spacious cabin tents, cots and wood stoves are provided. That evening, we’ll enjoy dinner and conversation around the campfire with our instructors.
In the morning, we’ll take a pleasant hike on the Harmony Trail to discover the fascinating changes that have taken place along the trail in the last 30 years. As you walk this 1.3 mile trail (and stop for lunch at the lake shore) you’ll learn the history of Mount St. Helens as well as the names of plants and animals that have made the Harmony basin their home. At the end of the day, a bus will take you back to your cars at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center.
Make-or-break Date: July 20, 2012
Meeting Time: 8 AM
Meeting Place: TBD
Level: Easy
Requirements: Participants should be in good shape and able to hike a couple miles over rough terrain.
Gear: To see the list of required gear for our field seminars, click here.Fee: $250 (of which $75 is a tax-deductible contribution to the Institute)
Limit: 12
