Oregon and Washington.

After finally reaching the Oregon border, we drove north to find the Oregon Dunes National Forest. We arrived around sundown and had a brief peak at the the Dunes before setting up camp. We woke the next day to a cloudy and rainy day:(  Alas, we didn't get to really see the dunes and left early to try and make the Washington border.

Oregon Coast

 We drove north through Portland and arrived in Gifford Pinchot National Forest and home of Mount Saint Helens. We spent the next few days exploring the forest and rivers before driving north to see Mt St Helens. We essentially drove around the volcano and were able to see both the front and back of the mountain to really see the full impact of the 1980 eruption. 

Mt. St. Helens. (Front side)

We also stopped off at the Ape Cave, or a lava tube and hiked down into the dark dank cavern.  

Entrance to the Ape Cave

The drive to the back of the volcano is littered with dead trees or as we soon learned a Ghost Forest. It all feels a bit eerie like the explosion wasn't nearly thirty two years ago but maybe only a few years ago. It has taken the forest nearly all that time to attempt to grow back some of the trees and shrubs that it lost. It look us about thirty minutes to drive through all the damaged areas and only three minutes for the blast to destroy it. Still an active volcano, it's humbling to stand as close as we did knowing that hot lava still bubbles below the mountain. 

Yeah, let's get closer!

A car that was destroyed by the volcano

Getting closer

Ghost forest

Back side of MSH

MSH

Destruction 

This car climbed Mt. St. Helens.....bad idea? 

Continuing north, we landed at a campground near Mt Rainer, yet another volcano, although a dormant one. We had already had a few glimpses of the mountain when we visited Mt. St. Helens but we were wanting a closer look. Unfortunately, Washington had a different idea for us. As a thunder storm rocked our little tent during the night and cold rains soaked our belongings we succumbed to the weather and took a day off from sightseeing. Traveling has gotten the better of Katie and I today and we did not want to pack, clean, or organize the car ONE more time. So we've landed for a few days to rest up and get ready to see Yellowstone National Park. We've decided it will be our last stop on the way home, for time and sanity's sake. I have a few friends near there that I cannot wait to see so we've also decided to spend an entire week there. So until then, happy travels!

Best fort EVER

What is that....?

Oh it's just our shelter...Katie and I have become the crazy camper ladies, great.