There has always been something magical and iconic about Mount St. Helens, shown here in all her glory in a rare 1925  photo by Asahel Curtis, from our State Archives lantern slide collection.  Many of us grew up swimming and canoeing on Spirit Lake, attending summer camp, picnicking or tent camping, hiking the wildflower meadows, or scaling the conical peak.

Rainier may be The Mountain, but there’s always been a special connection with St. Helens, that snow-clad bowl of vanilla ice cream, our Mount Fuji.

And then, 30 years ago next Tuesday, all hell broke loose.