For Immediate Release November 12, 1998	Contacts: Bonnie Lippit Phone: (360) 274-2100

JOHNSTON RIDGE OBSERVATORY
SETS WINTER HOURS

CASTLE ROCK, WA­The Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens will remain open for the winter. Located on the 4,200-foot Johnston Ridge in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, the Center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning November 16. The award-winning film, "Message from the Mountain," will be shown daily every hour on the half hour starting at 10:30 a.m., with the last showing at 3:30 p.m.

The Observatory will remain open through a cooperative effort with the Washington State Department of Transportation, which will plow State Route 504 to Johnston Ridge.

The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center (located at Silver Lake) and the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All centers will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

For additional information contact the Visitor Centers:

• Johnston Ridge Observatory . . . . . .    (360) 274-2140
• Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center . . . .    (360) 274-2131
• Mount St. Helens Visitor Center . . . .    (360) 274-2100

For more news from the Gifford Pinchot visit our Press Room.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Revised: 11/16/98