July 25, 2008 - General Information
Update
Visitor Information –
Please call the Monument Headquarters at 360-449-7800 for the most
up-to-date information on these sites and roads. Or visit
the Forest Special Conditions page.
Johnson Ridge
Observatory:
Open
until the end of October.
Open 7 days per
week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Johnston Ridge Observatory
shows a 16 minute movie describing the eruption on May 18, 1980.
Park Rangers conduct hourly talks on the pavilion describing the
1980 blast or current eruption. The Johnson Ridge Observatory has
a small bookstore. Please call or visit the visitor center for additional
information on other activities provided by the center employees,
at 360-274-2140.
Winter
Road Damage Limits Access to Windy Ridge on the East Side of the
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Forest Road
99, which provides access to the Windy Ridge viewpoint, has opened
to the Bear Meadows interpretive site. Forest road crews recently
encountered several areas affected by heavy snow pack and winter
storm damage on this high elevation road. A major failure of Forest
Road 99, which accesses the east side of the Mount St Helens National
Volcanic Monument (MSHNVM), will prevent visitors, for the remainder
of the summer, from accessing the popular Windy Ridge viewpoint
over looking Spirit Lake as well as the northeast side of the volcano.
Visitors will only be able to access Windy Ridge on foot
or by bicycle, as the road will remain closed to motor
vehicles until further notice. (July 23, 2008)
Coldwater Ridge
Visitor Center:
Site
is closed permanently.
Climbing: Forest
Service 83 is open to the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. Forest Road
81 is open to Forest Road 830, which is open to the Climber's Bivouac.
See the climbing report for
more information.
Lava Canyon and
Forest Roads 81 & 83: Forest
officials recently announced the reopening of Forest Road 83 to
Marble Mountain Sno-Park, Road 8303 to Ape Cave and the 81/830 road
to Climber's Bivouac. Forest Road 83 will remain closed this
summer at the gate at Marble Mountain Sno-Park due to a washout
near the June Lake trailhead caused by 2006 floods. Areas beyond
the 83 road washout are accessible by foot and bicycle only. Lava
Canyon Trail #184 remains closed.
Ape Cave
– Ape
Cave is open year round. However, the Apes Headquarter's
is closed between Labor Day and late June. The Apes’
Headquarters at Ape Cave, is currently closed. The cave can be dripping
wet, do be prepared with raingear during rainy days.
Pine Creek Information
Station - Closed.
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