Coldwater Peak, Washington

December 05, 2005

Coldwater_peak2 copy

Referred by: Linda Weirather
Summary authors & editors: Linda Weirather

On the above photo, Coldwater Peak is the high point of rugged terrain, as viewed northward from the crest of Johnston Ridge. Before the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens (Washington State), all of this view would have been dense forest. The landslide from the north side of the volcano crossed nearly 5 miles (8 km) of intervening river valley and topped Johnston Ridge (elevation 4,500 ft or 1,372 m). This laterally directed eruption seared all of this scene and continued beyond Coldwater Peak, which is 8 miles (13 km) from the Mt. St. Helens crater. Native grasses, flowers and trees are reclaiming all but the most exposed locations, such as the ridge top, but the now-silvery downed forest can still be seen on the face of Coldwater Peak. Mt. St. Helens is continuing a year-long eruptive phase. Photo taken by Larry Weirather on September 24, 2005.

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