Mount St. Helens Institute Newsletter Fall, 2010

Destruction Leads to Unparalleled Beauty People are awed by the destructive power that Mount St. Helens unleashed in 1980 but this summer, I watched with pleasure and delight as hundreds of people experienced Mount St. Helens' constructive power of regeneration. After thirty years, scientists are sharing a story that is no longer about the 1980 eruption but more about the elk browsing on the pumice plain, the stem-boring weevils ravenously consuming the willows and the birds, amphibians and reptiles that have established Mount St. Helens as a veritable wonderland of wildlife. Every 5 years since 1985, scientists from across the country return to their research plots at Mount St. Helens to measure and record the changes. These "pulses" of science discovery inform the world about volcanic processes. This summer, the scientists were joined by a group of writers and poets through which the Pulse gained a new element, that of translating science into inspiration. Throughout this newsletter, you'll see the photographic work of one of the writers, Simmons Buntin, who generously shared his work with the Institute. We gratefully acknowledge his assistance and hope you enjoy his work as much as we do. As the summer winds down into cooler days and longer nights, I invite you to join the Mount St. Helens Institute as we begin our fall classes, hikes and the return of Volcano Views and Brews. Fall is the perfect time to see Mount St. Helens for what it is-- an awe-inspiring act of construction.

Supporting Science MSHI Programs Make a Difference in Science Education Do you remember your favorite field trip in school? Many adults tell us that their favorite trip was to Mount St. Helens. Unfortunately, field trips are prohibitively expensive for many schools and have been cut from the curriculum. At the Mount St. Helens Institute, we've decided that if the kids can't come to the mountain, we'll bring the mountain to them through our interactive, video-based Volcano Explorers program. So far in 2010, over 2500 students have interacted

with world-class research scientists without leaving their classrooms. In 2011, we want to add curriculum support for teachers and include more students from throughout the country. Please help us support science education! Click here to make a donation: https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/MountStHelensInstitute/OnlineDonation.html

Accomplishments To Date -- By the Numbers 13, 567 people climbed Mount St. Helens from April 1 through August 31, 14 Guided Climbs served 129 clients, 40 Volunteers spent 2454 hours providing interpretation at Pine Creek, Cascade Peaks and Johnston Ridge Observatory, 100 Students participated in Volcano After Dark, 25 Mountain Stewards spent 832 hours monitoring trails and assisting hikers and climbers, 243 volunteers logged 1527 hours working on 13 miles of trails and repairing facilities, 25 youth monitored 4 miles of riparian zone through the Youth Stream Team Program, 98 enthusiastic learners participated in field seminars including three

Geology on High climbs to the rim, 35 guests climbed into the mouth of the crater and up to Crater Glacier, 23 intrepid hikers now understand why we call it the "Awesome Hike."

Fall is a Great Time to Hike Long-slanting shadows through tall trees, rusty reds, brilliant yellows, and sparkling blue streams! These are are few of our favorite things during autumn on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. We want to share these wonderful views with you through our series of Sunday Hikes. The schedule for fall is:

September 26 -- June Lake and Loowit October 10 -- Fossil and Kalama Trails October 24 --Ape Canyon

Registration is available online. Click here: http://mshinstitute.org/index.php/programs/guided_adventures

Imagine yourself with these hikers this fall.

National Public Lands Day Volunteers Needed! Join the Mount St. Helens Institute and our partners as we celebrate a summer of great work on the trails with...more great work on the trails! National Public Lands Day will include projects for all skills, abilities and ages so bring your family, church group or service club for a great day in the woods. After the work is done, we'll host a BBQ with raffle prizes and awards! Don't miss the fun! Saturday, September 25 9:30 am Marble Mountain Sno-Park, FS Rd 83 Register Here: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=1048631276&OR=1&Embedded=ON

Don't try this at home! That

pumice weighed barely a few ounces.

Volcano Views and Brews Returns Join us for the return of our fun and informative monthly lecture series. Open to all ages, these casual talks are at the Lucky Labrador at 1945 NW Quimby in Portland on the third Tuesday of each month. Our fabulous line-up includes:

September 21 --Traversing the Whittier Ridge with Dennis Stilwell October 19 --A Hike Through Time: Decades of Change on Mount St. Helens Harmony

Trail with Christine Colasurdo November 16 --Trees of Portland: An Exploration through Portland's Urban Forest with

Phyllis Reynolds

Foraging fr Wild Mushrooms October 16, 2010 Come explore the magical kingdom of fungi! Learn how to identify common characteristics of wild edible mushrooms. Then learn how to harvest and safely cook your treasures. Plan to get your feet and hands dirty as you play hide-and-seek with the forest’s most unusual and delectable offerings. Instructors Rheinhardt Bohme and Kate Hobbie will lead this exciting adventure. To get more information and register, click here: http://mshinstitute.org/index.php/programs/field_seminar/ foraging_for_edible_mushrooms_with_reinhardt_boehme_and_kate_hobbie/