Before Mt. St. Helens blew on May 18, 1980, three of us climbed to the crater on April 12, 1980

Mt. St Helens April 11, 1980 looking across to summit where we stood on April 12, 1980. Yale Lake just above the rim on right center. I took this photo the week before from an airplane ride to get an idea of what was at the top.

Pete pauses about 9am to consider the unfolding event. This same plume was also photographed by Mike Lawton who was at the 5000' level on the hills a few miles to the north above Spirit Lake.

Standing on the south summit looking to the rocky north rim and beyond to Mt. Rainier, I noticed rocks that may have fallen during the 9am blast.

Bill Greiner photographed Pete before he headed down and I photographed Bill and followed. Yale Lake can be seen in the background over his left shoulder. Swift Lake is on the left side of the image above Pete and below Mitchell Mountain (two snow patches).