Painting is just another way of keeping a diary ~Pablo Picasso

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Headwaters

Mount St Helens #3

After the lateral blast came a pyroclastic flow, which is a turbulent spewing of hot gases, ash, and rock, followed by lahars which are basically mudflows formed by melting snow and glaciers combined with rock and ash.  The lahars flowed down several of the north facing rivers, including the Toutle River which flows from Mount St Helens down to the Columbia River. We drove along the Toutle River entering the park. I read that five rivers originate on Mouth St Helens. I think this cut at the base of the mountain marks the origin of the Toutle River.

3 comments:

Sketchbook Wandering said...

Such a phenomenal place & image of nature. The US West is very different than New England. I'm grateful that I've had the pleasure of going out West in my youth...

TexWisGirl said...

fascinating terrain! beauty from the destruction.

Gail Dixon said...

It is so beautiful. Nature is fascinating. :)