Well Jo Anne housed us (and my comfy cocoon had a great eye opening view of a giant cedar), Steve got up pictures, and Eythain is the weary traveler heading home- so I guess I will write the scrapbook.

Milwaukie was really neat, mostly because everything is unique. The volcano was great. Started at the visitors center, and saw the Mt St Helen's movie, and all the educational stuff. We laughed the hardest at the seismograph. Charles, Eythain, Steve and I all jumped at the site to see how much of a shockwave we could register, we were very formidable. Joanne thought we were a bunch of geeks and would not claim us.

Was cloudy and overcast, never saw the full volcano/mountain. It is amazing to think that 1300 of 9000 feet of height just fell off the mountain. The force of the blow flattened trees for 15 miles. They lay like match sticks in some places (where Weyerhauser did not log before it was declared a monument- not just a national park). There is barely green in some areas, they are waiting for it to recover on it's own. The top of the mountain was a glacier, and the heat melted it and combined with the ash to make a nasty muddy mess. The ash from the volcano went around the world one and a half times. The nature center did a great talk and "junior ranger" presentation. (she had us all laughing- the top of the \ mountain came off in big chunks that are on the bottom of the valley- you can do a two mile hike and come back and purchase a certificate that you hiked the summit of Mt St. Helen's- they just don't point out it is the old summit-lol). The area used to be little study area, and no real tourist/learning center- only since the eruption. One of the ridges is named for the guy who stayed and took pictures and died. They all thought he would be safe, but never counted on the northward explosion that eventually was so destructive. This guy took pictures, and buried his camera in a knapsack to protect the pictures before he died. The ridge closest to the volcano is named after him. It is wild to see areas that are normal right next to destruction.

Then all of us axe murderers went to see the end of the Oregon trail, the Willamette falls, and the Valley. Neat to see the end of such a famous trail, and learn of some of the dealings with the "Indians". Powells was our first stop on "party day". Was just amazing, like 6 super Barnes and Nobles, with more than 3 seperate annexes. No one escaped without books, and we co-opted one of the workers to pull out a copy of "YANKED" for all of us.

We had lunch at the famous local rose garden, then Charles took us on a waterfall hike, to Multnomah Falls Park. Was gorgeous, and after lots of switchbacks we found out the top of the falls does not look as neat as the bottom. The water seemed to feather as it fell, cascading down to the gently arching/picturesque bridge. The park had just reopened this year afteer some of the trail/trees slid in a mud slide. After that we drove up to see the desert terrain and the Mt. Hood River. There was a huge flood many many years ago, that left major sandbars and gouges in it's wake.

Glad I did some computer postcards while we were gone, this was not so daunting. Wish you all could have been there (but the backseat was tight even before we started with the childish leaning around corners, and "he's on *my* side" stuff)

Dee

*Terry and Charlie helped (intentionally or not)

Finally got pictures back from Glacier National Park (actually Waterton-Glacier) and thought I would send postcards from Montana.

The incredible blue color of the water in some pictures is from "glacial flour" which is due to the glacier grinding rock into a fine material that doesn't settle. Estimates are that all of the glaciers will be gone in about 30 years. I didn't "touch a glacier" as promised. Got great pics of Grennell Glacier during a trail ride that went most of the way (actually looks like part of the mountain to the right of the waterfall).

The fires were remarkable, but people had great attitudes- that the park had fires in the past and would have them in the future- nature renews itself all the time. There were hoses/help everywhere to help protect people and structures, etc. I guess there will be morels in abundance next year and berries for the bears/wildlife in 5 years.

Dee

August 23, 2003