North Seattle Community College's
 EARTH SCIENCE CLASSES
Instructor:  Tom Braziunas

Optional
Field Trips

Mt. St. Helens

Mount St. Helens with small plume,
reflected in Spirit Lake, May 19, 1982

Click here to view images from our optional class field trip, June 15, 2002

Mt. St. Helens Information

Field Trip Map:
Below is a map of the route and the agenda we plan to follow for our tour of Mt. St. Helens.  WE WILL TAKE THE ROUTE MARK YELLOW ONLY (OPTION 1) although I included a second option for a longer trip.  If some of us wish to consider OPTION 2, let me know.  No one will need to go on the second option which would require an additional 3 hours of time.


Click on the map for the full-size view

Agenda:

7AM -- Leave NSCC campus -- proceed south on I-5

9:30 AM -- Exit 21 (140 miles from Seattle) -- proceed east on Route 503 (THIS PORTION OF THE TRIP IS MARKED IN YELLOW ON THE MAP)

10:30 AM -- Travel 35 miles, then turn left on Route FR 83 where Route 503 ends and Route FR 83 and FR 90 begin.

10:40 AM -- Turn left on Route FR 8303 (a short road not shown on map but it is next to "Leg G Star") and proceed 0.5 miles to "Trail of Two Forests."  FIRST STOP -- 30-minute stay

11:15 AM -- Proceed another 1.5 miles on FR 8303 to "Ape Cave."  SECOND STOP -- 1-hour stay

12:15 AM -- 12:45 PM   LUNCH & DISCUSSION

12:45 PM -- Return to Route FR 83 and continue northeast 12 miles to "Lahar Viewpoint."  THIRD STOP -- 30-minute stay

1:30 PM -- Proceed 1 mile to end of Route FR 83 to "Lava Canyon Trail."  FOURTH STOP -- 1-hour stay

2:30 PM -- Return on Route FR 83 to Route "Lava Canyon Trail."  FOURTH STOP -- 1-hour stay

OPTION 1:

3:30 PM -- Return on Route FR 83 to intersection with FR 90 and Route FR 503.  Take Route FR 503 back to I-5.  Total distance is 50 miles.

5:00 PM -- Proceed north on I-5 and stop for a quick meal.

8:00 PM -- Arrive at NSCC campus in Seattle.  

 

OPTION 2:

3:30 PM -- Return on Route FR 83 to intersection with FR 90 and Route FR 503.  Proceed east on Route FR 90 (THIS PORTION OF THE TRIP IS MARKED IN PINK ON THE MAP).   Take Route FR 90 for 27 miles to "Clearwater Overlook."  FIFTH STOP -- 15-minute stay

4:30 PM -- Continue on Route FR 90 for 7 miles and turn left on FR 99.  Drive 20 miles to "Windy Ridge Viewpoint."   SIXTH STOP -- 1-hour stay

6:30 PM -- Return on Route FR 99 to Route FR 26 (THIS PORTION OF THE TRIP IS MARKED IN BLUE ON THE MAP).  Take Route FR 26 to Route FR 25 and turn left.  Continue to State Route 131 and then to U.S. Highway 12.  Turn left and take Highway 12 to I-5.   STOP FOR SNACKS.  Total Distance to I-5 is 100 miles.

8:30 PM -- Reach I-5 and travel north to Seattle.

10:30 PM -- Arrive at NSCC campus in Seattle.

Click below to link to the official Mt. St. Helens website:
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/NatMonument/