As part of the Cascade Range, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson appear like a spine progressing up the center of Oregon and Washington. And when it comes to Mt. St. Helens, expect the unexpected, scientists say. Mt. St. Helens represents nature’s awesome power at its finest and the most active volcano (and deadliest) in North America. The mountain was dormant for 127 years and being from the Pacific Northwest, I grew up with assurances the beautiful dormant white mountain would never become active in my lifetime. 40 <strong>May</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Could Mt. St. Helens Blow Again? By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World That was before Mt. St. Helens came to life and literally blew her great white dome top on <strong>May</strong> 18, 1980. Survivors called it “Hell on earth.” On <strong>May</strong> 17, 1980, a succession of earthquakes underneath the mountain signaled that a cataclysmic occurrence was commencing. Many thought the mountain would blow straight-up when it went off. Instead, it blew sideways. A mudflow roared down at 300-miles per hour. The blast was stronger than hurricane force, with mud the texture of concrete. It was the largest landslide in recorded history. The nine-hour eruption killed 57 people and leveled 230-square miles of prime forest. To this day, it’s Washington State’s worst air polluter. Mt. St. Helens is rebuilding itself from the inside out and is still considered the most likely mountain in the Cascades to blow again. The Cascade Mountain Range stretches from British Columbia to Northern California. With a perfect conical shape Mt. St. Helens was considered the prettiest in the range. When I was a teenager, my family enjoyed a camping trip alongside the lake that was below picturesque Mt. St. Helens. Spirit Lake is no more. When the mountain blew, the lake swiftly overflowed with volcanic ash and debris. St. Helens is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire. As of now, the mountain is to some degree tranquilly wrapped in timber and ash, but could Mt. St. Helens Blow Again? “Indeed, she could,” declare prominent volcano scientists. Kathy draws her articles from a diverse personal background. She hopes readers enjoy her column as much as she enjoys the writing and sharing. Hawaii By: Lisa Kemmerling / The Fashionable Traveler When I think of the Hawaiian Islands, some of my most treasured memories come to mind. I fell in love with Hawaii at the tender age of 15, when my high school was offering trips to various places for a spring sabbatical. Many hours of babysitting and working at the Dairy Queen later helped fulfill that dream. Landing in Oahu after an 8 hour journey, I quite literally thought “I’m in Paradise.” A decade later, when I met my husband we decided to take our honeymoon to Kona on The Big Island. That was soon followed by all the subsequent trips to the various Islands (with our daughter through the years) confirming what many people already knew - that Hawaii is magical, beautiful, relaxing, and tropical all rolled into one. Naturally, many things have changed over the years on these beautiful islands. Setting all that aside, we recently returned to the island of Maui to immerse ourselves once again and reminisce about the good times we’ve had. If you’re a golf enthusiast, then Maui is your place. With 14 courses to choose from, they’re considered some of the most challenging around. For those who enjoy more adventurous activities, an early morning bike ride down Haleakala will definitely wake you up - been there and done that. US News ranked Wailea and Napili Bay as some of the best beaches in the world. There are many restaurants in Maui to choose from; however, our personal favorite is Merriman’s, located in a beautiful cove with ocean views. Traveling to the other islands you’ll also find that this amazing restaurant is located on Kauai and the Big Island. Clothing seems to change with time, and as a Fashion consultant casual can be dressed up or down depending on where you are headed. For the ladies, linen, dresses, and skirts paired with sandals and a light wrap or sweater for those cooler nights will suffice. For the men, shorts or light dress pants paired with none other than a Hawaiian shirt is perfectly acceptable in most cases. “Let the waves hit your feet, and the sand be your seat.” Aloha! Lisa Kemmerling is the owner of Clean Lines Fashion Consulting, helping individuals with their packing needs for travel, as well as finding current styles for both men & women. You can contact her at: lisa@cleanlinesfashion.com or 925/518-4950.
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