A Little Explosive History

An extinct volcano has not erupted in 10,000 years and probably will never do so again.  The shifts in the earth's plates have likely eliminated its lava supply and moved the geologic hot spots away from the volcano.  New Hampshire's Ossipee Mountain (near the White Mountains) is an extinct volcano.

We are going to hike active volcanoes: Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and Mount Saint Helens. An active volcano has the potential to erupt.  If it's not doing anything, it's dormant (like a sleeping giant).  But the sleeping giant can wake up.....

Mount Hood, about 11,200 feet high, is more than 500,000 years old. Records indicate that there have been periods of frequent eruptions followed by quiet interludes of hundreds of years. The last eruption was 1907.

Mount Adams is about 520,000 years old.  I’ve found drastically different records of its most recent eruption, ranging from 500 BCE to about 950 CE.  I feel fairly safe either way.

And then there’s Mount Saint Helens. About 8,360 feet high (used to be higher) and 40,000 years old (a baby), Mt. St. Helens is not only active, it's been active a lot.  The most recent eruption was 2008. There was a series of eruptions between 2004 and 2008.  But the best known is the 1980 eruption. 

                                      Mt. St. Helens 1980 eruption, from history.com

In 1980, Mt. St. Helens blew off 1,300 feet (1/4 mile) of its peak, left a one mile crater, created a massive landslide of debris that traveled almost a mile and raised the air temperature in the vicinity to over 800°F.  Fifty-seven people were killed, nearly 300 homes and almost 200 miles of highway were destroyed.  Old growth forest was blown away,  and ash and debris choked the mountain streams.   Sound daunting?  I urge you to view this video, less than three minutes long,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhU6jml6NY4    to see the eruption. (If you're interested, a second video of about seven minutes will follow.)

In December, 1989, there were a few ‘smaller’ eruptions that began to rebuild the mountain’s peak.  The most recent eruption was 2008.

When Mt. St. Helens began to rumble in 1980, seismologists installed stations that monitor all the activity, assuring that there will be no surprises. The area remains active, with millions of signals recorded (some obviously detectable only by special equipment).


My adventures in the Cascades took place when Mt. St. Helens was fairly quiet, between some small ‘dome building’ activity in December, 1989 the 2008 eruption.  And it was still just amazing.

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The Volcanos of the Northwest and Columbia River Gorge

First a reminder:  I am writing from the comfort of my home,  and my blog entries are based on notes I keep when I travel.  Some of my trips were a while ago. Things change.  That can certainly be the case when you visit an area of active volcanos.

Spending all my life very near sea level in the urban east coast, it was an amazing and breathtaking surprise to see places like the Grand Canyon, the Grand Tetons, Zion Canyon, the flat white tundra of  Manitoba....   Spending all my life as a sheltered urban east coast resident, it never occurred to me that I would want to put on hiking boots and go to mountainous areas where people were few and bear warnings were frequent. 

But I did.  The last time you saw me (so to speak) I was in Glacier National Park, and I was hiking.  That followed heli-hiking, which not only helped me overcome my fear of heights but also got me to think of helicopters as just another way to get around. 

If you know me or have followed my blog, you know I don’t much enjoy the research or planning involved in a trip.  I like to read the itinerary and go.  I like someone else to do all the planning, phone calls, transportation arrangements, lead me, give me information, and even arrange meals.  Country Walkers (http://www.countrywalkers.com/)  does just that*. 

Country Walkers’ trip to the Northwest volcanoes and Columbia River Gorge calls to me....especially the part where I hike on active volcanos.

                                                      Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens

Yes,  active volcanos in the Cascade Range.  This western mountain range goes from northern California up to southern British Columbia.  We are going to hike on Mt. Hood, Mount Adams, and  Mt. St. Helens -- all active volcanos in the Ring of Fire that circles the Pacific Ocean.  I have to admit right up front that the possibility I could hike on an active volcano that erupted not too long ago is irresistible.  Yup, I’ve gone from being afraid of heights to wanting to climb up an active volcano.

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* Country Walkers also help travelers organize ‘self-guided’ tours where they handle all the details and  you go at your own pace.

Leaving Glacier National Park--a little advice, some memorable photos

Lessons learned, Glacier National Park 

My first hiking trips were ‘luxury heli-hiking trips’.  They *were* hiking trips, but suitable for novices like me.  We could split into groups by ability, and novices had the support of guides to help us learn how to negotiate a steep hill, remind us to stay hydrated, etc.

Up to that point, all the ‘hiking’ I had done was walk the hilly streets of Arlington.  We got some good hills here, but that’s not hiking.

In Glacier National Park, with the help of The World Outdoors (http://www.theworldoutdoors.com/) planning and their expert guides, I had the chance to appreciate breath-taking natural views, be awed by the wonder of this planet --and I hiked.  

A Little Blister Prevention Advice

I always learn things when I travel--about the places I see,  history,  natural growth and vegetation, wildlife...  I also learn some 'useful tricks'.  One bit worth sharing before I close out this trip--how to manage blisters.

Most surprising to me --the guides use duct tape.  It ‘slides’, preventing blister-causing friction.  If you already have a blister, put a thin layer of padding over the blister so the tape won’t adhere to it,  and put the duct tape over that.  

Before you start, consider using tape on areas of your foot that are prone to blistering... you know, those places that your favorite shoe tends to rub.

More general knowledge for blister prevention:

- Break in your shoes before you go.  If you use your own inner-soles, break those in, too. 
- Wear a wicking sock layer next to your skin. Not cotton or wool.   - Wear a double layer of socks--the added layer reduces friction.  You can buy double-layer socks or you can wear a thin ‘sock liner’ under the regular one. 

- Use lubrication (there are some made just for runners and hikers, and there’s always petroleum jelly) 

At the other end of the spectrum, especially if you have sweaty feet--keep your feet dry.  From anti-perspirant to corn starch, if you can keep you feet dry, they’re less likely to blister.

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This was the most challenging trip I’ve ever taken, and one of the most beautiful.  I keep trying to find words to describe how I feel when I look at--when I walk in--mountains that are many millions of years old; when I see how nature can rebound; when I see what untouched wilderness has to offer. I keep coming up with ‘awe’.  So I’ll close out this trip to Glacier National Park with thanks to my travel friend Linda,  to The World Outdoors and their guides, and some pictures.
Thank you for following Tales from the Trail and Places I've Been.  Back in a week or so with the start of a series on hiking on volcanoes and in river gorges (yes, volacanos.  Active volcanoes).

earth meeting the sky...clouds descending and peaks rising above them...

Picnic by the Iceberg Lake          

Boat trip to Goat Haunt

                       

SwiftCurrent Lake 

            

  view from Highline Trail

 Golden Eagle

Most of the wildlife I saw was trying to get away from us--maybe not the Bighorn Sheep or the Columbian Ground Squirrel.  But the bighorns and the deer below were definitely going the other way.

deer getaway

As for  the warnings about bears I (thankfully) did not run into any.  But to close this blog I have to include this sign (not one of my photos).  I've seen a few versions of this, taken in spots with notable bear populations, online including the Fort Steele Campground in British Columbia. After all the advice and the warnings,  I especially appreciated the laugh.

Will be back with a new trip blog soon.

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Iceberg Lake- Glacier National Park

  After a short holiday break, 'Tales' returns.  Happy New Year!

We're approaching the end of our trip.  Those of us who ‘took it easy’ on the last hike are feeling up to a fresh challenge, and we’ve got sunshine and blue skies to for our ten-mile hike to Iceberg Lake. We’ll gain about 1,250 feet in elevation as we go.

We start the day with ‘foot work’, which I once thought meant light dancing to warm up for the day’s activities. I now know it means bandaging, blister care, and other foot treatment. I've gained some surprising suggestions on managing blisters;  I'll share them in my next post

And we’re off to Iceberg lake.

The early part of the trail, I am told, is the steepest. Ptarmigan Trail gains almost 200 feet in just a quarter of a mile.  One or two places along the trail we have to step up on rocks... those of you how know me are aware that I am not very tall (ok, I’m very short).  I don’t ‘step up’.  I sit down on the rock, swing my legs up, and then stand and move on.  But I am moving on.

Ptarmigan falls

It gets easier after that first stretch. 

We arrive....icebergs in glacial blue waters, bright sun , solid rock wall creating the pool…ice reflecting on the surface of the lake…it’s exquisite.  Words cannot do justice to the beauty.

Iceberg Lake

The writer walking down to Iceberg Lake

      The writer takes a break

Picnic by the Lake

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