Debra Baschal
"This is a beautiful area," Blair exclaimed as he watched the scenery fly pass the window. "It's amazing the comeback the area has made in the last 20 years."
"So, you think it was worth spending your first vacation as a detective checking out the area around an active volcano?" Jim asked.
"OK, Ok, so I thought the area here would be a lot more desolate, and not nearly so green," Blair explained.
Jim smiled as he remembered all the groaning and complaining his roommate had done when Jim had suggested they go to the Mt. St. Helens area during their vacation to check out his cousin's cabin. Only his promise to pay all the expenses for both of them if Blair didn't enjoy himself had worked. His smile grew larger as he realized his friend was going to have to foot his own bill this trip.
Making the last turn, Jim brought their rental jeep to a halt in front of, what could only be described as a picturese cabin, with a view of Mt. St. Helens over a nearby ridge.
"Whoa." Blair said, awed at the view.
"I agree, Sandburg." Jim echoed just as awestruck.
"Man, If I didn't know that was just a bunch of clouds up there by the peak, I'd be worried," Blair commented about the plume of white rising from the crater.
"I'm not so sure, Chief. Let's get unloaded and turn on the radio. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Ya know?" Jim said as he grabbed his bag.
"Come on, man. They would've said something at the airport in Portland if there was a volcano alert going on," Blair teased.
"Remember Dante's Peak Chief?" Jim referred to a movie they owned a copy of and had seen countless times.
"That's Hollywood, Jim. This is real life," Blair grinned. "And in real life we have you."
"Me? What are you talking about, Chief?" Jim asked confused.
"I'm talking about your Sentinel abilities, man. You should be able to sense if something's going to happen before hand. There's even a legend that the Sentinel of the tribe warned the people before Mt. Mazama blew. As a result, no lives were lost in the eruption," Blair explained.
"Mt. Mazama? I've never heard of it, Chief. Where is it? Mexico?" Jim asked.
"Nah man, it's about 200-250 miles south of us. Only it's known as Crater Lake now," Blair clarified. "So, you feeling strange about the area?"
Jim laughed. "The only thing I'm feeling strange about, Chief, is my Guide, who suddenly seems determined to enjoy himself even if he has to pay his own way this trip."
Blair laughed as they went inside. "Hey, man, I'll gladly pay my own way if nothing bad happens. Because, I am SO not into our usual bad luck on trips, we must've seriously ticked off St. Christopher or Mars or someone." They both laughed as they set about unpacking while listening to one of the local radio stations.
By suppertime, there was still no word of a volcano alert. Both men laughed and joked about both of the volcano movies they had a tendency to watch on a semi-regular basis. After enjoying a spectacular sunset both retired for the evening
The next day, they left as planned on an overnight hike. As they hiked, Jim told Blair how, according to his cousin, the ridge they were headed for had protected most of the cabin from the 1980 eruption.
As they reached the top of the ridge, both men realized the same cloud plume was there from the day before. Only now, it was twice as large as it had been.
"Jim?" Blair's voice was uncertain.
"I know... I hate to say this Chief, but I've got this urgent desire to get out of here," Jim admitted, already turning back the way they had come. Blair nodded, following his friend.
"I think we should warn anyone else we see, too," Blair suggested. Jim nodded his agreement.
They made the trip back to the cabin in record time, even with alerting more than 30 people on their way. Once at the cabin, the two of them quickly secured it and packed up. Just as they were climbing into their rental, there was a tremendous rumbling. Looking up, the plume had tripled in size and had gone from a light gray to a deep black as the first warnings of the eruption made itself known to everyone else. Moments later, the Emergency Alert System sounded over the radio that had come on as soon as Jim had started the truck, followed by an announcement ordering an immediate evacuation of the area. The message warned that the previously unsuspected eruption was imminent.
On their way out of the area, Jim and Blair stopped to help 3 cars full of people with engine trouble get going again, and picked up 8 hikers. While it was extremely crowded, and they were forced to abandon the luggage and packs on the side of the road, the jeep and it's occupants managed to reach the safety zone moments before the big eruption.
Relieved they were both safe and unharmed, Jim and Blair returned to Cascade on the next flight going north, after informing the local authorities they were both safe.
A few weeks later, both were presented with certificates of appreciation from the Governor of Washington for their contributions to the evacuation of the area and for helping to keep the loss of life down. Both men were hailed as heroes, along with many others, for recognizing the danger signs, warning people and helping so many people to evacuate the area safely.
A wealthy hiker they had rescued offered to give them a trip to Hawaii as a reward, however they both turned it down out of fear of what Diamond Head might do.
The End.
Comments: dbascha@hotmail.com
My facts and legends are myths or fiction except about Crater Lake's real name. It really is Mt. Mazama.
I also know very little about what goes on with predicting eruptions and how the U.S.G.S. goes about it. Like the guys, most of my information comes from Dante's Peak and Volcano, the two movies referred to in the story.
I wrote this on the train going past Glacier Nat'l Park up in Montana on my way back from our family reunion in Michigan. (I went on a camping trip via the train.) As we're going through the park and over the Marias Pass (the lowest pass over the Rockies from New Mexico to Canada.) They mention the snow sheds to try to get the avalanches in the winter to pass over the tracks. Passing through that and writing about this eruption had me feeling slightly anxious. What an imagination I've got.
Oh, if you can take The Amtrak Empire Builder from Chicago to either Portland or Seattle, or visa versa, I strongly recommend it. It's gorgeous and well worth it. So is the trip on The California Zephyr.
Deb.