See CNN..I hope everyone is safe.

yep, looking at it out my front window, doesnt look too bad, might get a little ash...

Wow. Thanks, Scarlett.

Ranger, it must be so amazing to actually see from your window!
I hope it stays steam .. imagine, I was there yesterday..

it is on Fox News also

Ranger - were you there 25 years ago? I could hardly imagine what it must be like!

ahh its over, just a little burp, little ash mostly steam

Reneeinva> Funny you should ask. I was a little TOO close on that day. A group of us had gone four wheeling around Troutlake, which is due East about 30 miles of St Helens..We were very lucky the blast went north west, otherwise we probably wouldnt be here.
I have never been as scared. We all really thought we were finished, it was pitch black, with not just ash, but small rocks falling..the strangest sound...spooky..we had to spend the night in the woods,had about 10 inches of ash on our jeeps the next morning.

Well, I think it is burping again now and I am very glad to see you posting here today , safe and sound! What an experience to live to tell about though

Once again, wow. That must have been so scary!

Scarlett, good thing you got out yesterday...the airport is shut down for a bit now...mostly precautionary.

Ranger--I remember when it blew in '80...but thankfully I was not as close as you were! We have friends who were on the summit of Adams during it and watching it. I can only imagine how fascinating that would be.

Webcam view, looks milder than CNN .
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

Last time we were in Seattle we saw the Imax film on Mt. St. Helens and I could not believe my eyes. Ranger, what an incredible view you must have. I hope she keeps it down to a dull roar... Mother Nature is quite impressive.

SEA is open and not experiencing any delays. AA flights are ontime. The 1:27 flight departing at 1:25 as a matter of fact.
We had family in near St Helen's in 80 and they were evacuated... I am very surprised you were allowed to be so close, Ranger.

I never thought Fodors would be a source for news. Thanks for the info Scarlett. Did you post a trip report yet? How was Portland?

Our news is saying the ash only made it to the 10,000 ft level, so not very high. I think the PDX airport is to reopen soon.

The airports are not closed!!!!
AA has had regular service out fo PDX all day today. All AA flights have departed on time.
Please see the FAA website for the most current airport information.
http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

Thanks Orcas, I am getting my trip report together (in my head) and will post soon. Today was just one of those getting oneself accustomed to being HOME again days..and of course, convincing ones Pup that he will not be left behind ever again. ((&))
I would not have been that sad to have had to stay longer in Portland

Didn't mean to create a stir...was just reporting what our local news here in PDX was reporting.

Anyway...my mom just called and she is flying out of SFO today up to Vancouver and her flight is delayed due to the eruption. She was told that they will be flying right over it so she is pretty excited to see it!

Do you guys understand that this is a historical event and maybe 50 years from now the generations of Fodorites will mention this day? Maybe... I am getting old and sentimental

I hope this IS NOT a historic event!

mms... no problem about the airport thing. It has been said 2x on this post and according to the FAA and AA there are no delays.
I am "close" to AA so I have full access to the airport systems.
Anyway, I am careful to be accurate with such things because there are people out there who will think they can arrive a little later than planned and that is certainly NOT the case.
Alaska Air is running a little late out of SFO but it does not indicate in the airport or FAA system that it is due to the steam eruption.