Going Ape

As you can see from the photo of the volcano the lava dome is building up quite nicely yet again.  This year we had some really gorgeous views of the volcano and the mountain ridge lines. This photo was taken up at the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

It was on the second day of our trip that we went to the Ape Caves and Windy Ridge Loop.  Yes I said Ape Cave.  It is actually a lava tube.  Fun trip.  Oh and I did trip.  I managed to severely sprain my left ankle in the caves. 

I tripped halfway through the EASY CAVE and refused to quit.  I kept going to the end and climbed back up again.  I still managed to make it to Windy Ridge too.

These are what are known as the rail road tracks inside the cave which formed naturally.











This is called a Lava Meatball.  It fell 12 feet from the ceiling and rolled along the lava until it got stuck right here.

Three quarter of a mile there and three quarters of a mile back.  Yes 1.5 miles.  See I can add.

Towards the back of the cave you have to crawl.  I kid you not!

Ah there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Finally getting back out again.  Its quite chilly in the tube, about 46 F.  I could see my breath and was happy I had a fleece vest.

I made it to this point at Windy Ridge Loop view point, which is about half way up.

See that tiny person in the photo?  That is J and he is almost to where I stopped which is the photo above.  Not bad for a person with a sprained ankle.  I wanted a good vacation so I did everything possible to enjoy it.

J waving at me from the very top of Windy Ridge. 

This is part of the blast zone from the 1980 explosion.

The lateral blast knocked down any tree less than 8 feet in diameter, moments later, the landslide pushed dirt, rock and trees into the southern end of the lake, forcing the water up over the northern shores.  When the lake flowed back into it's new bed, all the trees on the hillside were washed into the new lake.  The whitish stuff is the trees.

See the tiny island to the left and closest to the land mass in the front of the photo?  That used to be the area in which President Truman's lodge was located.  It now sits at the bottom of the lake buried by the blast.

This is a photo of J and me at Windy Ridge Loop Mount St. Helen's National Volcanic Monument.  Squinting from the sun and wind with smiles on our faces.

Flowers growing wild in the blast zone.

Now for the complaints, though few, here they are:
Many thanks to Stayfree, Kotex, Playtex and Tampax for aiding me in making it through my holiday with J.  J says to say "screw you Al.wa.ys and your 'have a happy period'".  So yes the 27th brought the flood gates from hell in the evening.  The Endometriosis has definitely grown back.  Piggybacking tampon with pad got me through about two hours at a time while on my adventure.  Side note:  porta-potties are not very conducive to female needs.  Thankfully I keep hand sanitizer with me!

 I went to the doctor today.  The ankle is wrapped and they gave me an IM of Toradel.  Hasn't helped a bit yet and it should have before I left the office.  I rolled my ankle out, then in causing a three stage sprain: high ankle, medial and lateral.  I still had a fun time in the caves and managed to walk out on my own two feet.

J and I celebrated his birthday on the road and he is so proud of me, and so am I for what it matters, for making the vacation fun though I was injured and in major pain from the endo.  There are times you just have to say "screw it I'm going to live my life no matter how much pain I'm in.".