On May 18, 1980 while my husband and I were in The Gambia, West Africa, where we served in the Peace Corps, we were shocked when we heard on the BBC of Washington’s Mount Saint Helens’ eruption. When we returned home 15 months later, one of the first things we did was to go to the mountain to see the devastation for ourselves.
It was surreal. Even after all that time, 234 square miles of beautiful forests were reduced to scorched trees lying flat on the ground. Depending on their position to the mountain, some lay in one direction, some another. Vegetation was non-existent, or burnt to a crisp. There were no signs of animal life. Spirit Lake, once a lovely resort with a reputation of good fishing, was jammed with logs, and dead as a puddle.
Fifty-seven people lost their lives as a result of the catastrophic eruption. The blast and subsequent floods ruined or severely damaged more than three hundred homes, along with farm buildings and equipment.
Later, as I researched cattle ranching for my first novel, Rosemount, I interviewed Jake Harder, an eastern Washington cattle rancher near Ritzville. I learned a lot about cattle ranching from Jake, but also learned how much his ranch was affected by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens. Cattle were already grazing in pasture, but after the eruption the ground was covered in ash and the stock had to be hand fed. The tractor’s engine got clogged with ash, and Jake had to rig a fix for that. People in Ritzville took in traveling strangers because the roads were unpassable and visibility near zero with ash.
On researching for my novel, Tenderfoot, I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Randle, a small town near Mount St. Helens. The owner invited a local woman forest ranger to join us for breakfast, and she regaled us with her fascinating experience with the eruption. That Sunday, May 18, 1980, had been her day off and she went fishing to a small lake with friends. Mount St. Helens erupted while they were there and their harrowing experience coming down the mountain left me chilled. I used some of her experience in my novel, Tenderfoot, assured that I wasn’t exaggerating.
On the 45th anniversary of the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, all these thoughts come to mind. Tenderfoot has been my best-selling novel and holds a special place in my heart.