Mt St Helens and Spirit Lake before the Eruption

by Charles Robinson

Title

Mt St Helens and Spirit Lake before the Eruption

Artist

Charles Robinson

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Photograph - From Postcard

Description

I found this old photograph on a postcard showing Mt. Helens and Spirit Lake before the eruption of the mountain on May 18, 1980. It was probably one of the most beautiful mountains in the country with its perfectly symmetrical conical shape. I had the privilege of visiting the mountain and picking on Spirit Lake and saw first hand this beautiful scene, but did not photograph it. I looked Mt St Helens on the internet and found this interesting account, "Mt. St. Helens was sacred to the local Indian tribes, who had been witnesses to its long history of eruptive behavior, giving rise to ancient legends that caused them to give the mountain a wide berth. The Cowlitz Tribe called the mountain Lawetlat�la ("One From Whom Smoke Comes"), and the most commonly used name today is the Klickitat Tribe name of Loo-wit ("Keeper of the Fire"). The local tribes would not fish in Spirit Lake, believing the fish, with heads like bears, held the souls of the evilest people who had ever lived. They also believed the lake shores were populated by a band of rogue demons. Only young warriors out to prove their bravery dared climb to the timberline and spend the night. Later, legends claimed the evil spirits of the mountain were punishing the local tribes for allowing the white men to settle at her feet." That is allegedly one reason, according to the legend, for the repeated volcanic eruptions.

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February 28th, 2014

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