While the Johnston Ridge Observatory will close for the winter season later this month, there are still plenty of fall opportunities to experience Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
“Fall is one of the best times to visit Mount St. Helens. Although Ranger programs and services are limited this time of year, it is an excellent time for the local and returning visitors to take in the extremely dynamic landscape,” lead ranger Cory Wall said in a news release
The observatory will close for the season at 6 p.m. Oct. 30.
Two new movies are among the updates and upgrades added to the experience at Mount St. Helens. The observatory plays the movies throughout the day, utilizing a new dual-projector and surround-sound systems in the auditorium.
New interactive displays tell the story of the 1980 eruption and recovery of devastated ecosystems.
While regularly scheduled presentations on the south and east sides of the monument are over, Wall said he will be out a couple of days a week speaking with visitors on Forest Roads 90, 25 and 99 as weather allows.
Guided hikes and ranger presentations will continue through October at the observatory, though they will depend on weather conditions.
“Elk are in the rut, trees and shrubs begin to change and there are very few people; just you and the monument,” Wall said in the release. “On nice days you may still find a roving ranger happy to share with you the stories of the landscape, point out some elk and answer every question; perhaps even one on one.”
In addition, the Mount St. Helens Institute will offer an Oct. 22 field seminar on foraging for edible mushrooms. Reinhard Bhme and Kate Hobbie will show participants how to identify common characteristics of wild edible mushrooms, and how to harvest many different types of edible mushrooms and cook with them.
People interested in the session must sign up by Friday. The cost is $50. You can get more details and register by contacting 360-449-7883 or mshinstitute.org.
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