Mount St. Helens - Photos & Comments. Are They Nuts?

The USGS has done a great job getting their website fine tuned for the deluge of hits they are getting due to recent activity. I think it's no coincidence that the Mount St. Helens webcam was put online just last month. Clearly, USGS knew things were moving and shaking down below. Their new site is plan, but informative, and W3C standards compliant, which is pretty cool to a webjunkie like me.

There are two other weblinks with incredible data about the latest developements:

• Daily commentary and reports: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/CurrentActivity/ (updated twice a day)


• Photos! Some incredible up close photos available here: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Images/MSH04/framework.html

Lookyloo's or Thrill Seekers?
One wonders about the huge crush of people all heading TOWARDS Mount St. Helens
right now. Most of them are old enough to remember 1980, and even if not, there
is PLENTY of visible evidence that standing next to active volcanos may not be
the smartest thing to do.



Naturally, SOMEONE has to be there to keep me informed, so I can understand why the USGS has people like this guy...But there some others with a much more cavalier
attitude towards life. Check out what these guys spend their day doing:




As crazy as they may be, I'm sure glad they are there. How else would we get
to watch the volcano grow like this! (these two images where shot just 3 days
apart!)



Then of course, there's the ultimate payoff - shots like this!


I just pray for all the fools up there, I hope they have their asbestos running
shoes handy

~NW