40 years ago in Washington: False sense of security builds as gawkers flock to Mount St. Helens

Note to readers: Today, like other recent Sundays, we’re going back 40 years, instead of the usual 100 years, to chronicle the news that was coming out of Mount St. Helens in 1980.

Mount St. Helens was relegated to page 22 of The Spokesman-Review on April 12, 1980, after weeks of dominating the front page.

This reflected a diminution of activity – or at least, what appeared to be a diminution. Scientists noted only a few minor eruptions and “slight” earthquakes, and no harmonic tremors.

A false sense of security was building. The next day, the headline read, “Volcano Show Draws a Crowd.”

Tourists “flocked to Mount St. Helens on the first clear, spring weekend day” since Mount St. Helens began acting up in March.

“The volcano watchers gathered at viewing points along Interstate 5,” the Associated Press reported.

A number of people rented small planes at the Kelso, Washington, airport to get even closer.

This reached an apex on April 14, when the Associated Press reported that two mountain climbers were seen “inching their way to the top of the 9,677-foot peak.” Several other climbers had been seen on the mountain as well. Two television news helicopters actually landed on the crest of the mountain.

This was clearly dangerous – and not just in retrospect. The next day the paper noted that people entering the area were violating federal law and could be prosecuted.

However, the mountain remained relatively quiet through April 18, leading people to think that the worst was over. A grocery store in Toutle, Washington, was already selling T-shirts reading “Survivor – Eruption Mount St. Helens 1980.”