Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge

ballast · 07-19-2009, 09:40 PM

Had a great ride today.
Met up with Dan, a coworker on his Vstrom or storm or whatever it is. Anyway it had 2 wheels so I took him along. Rode about 45 miles south to Morton where we met up with Kris, Greg and his friend Larry.

From there we headed out through Randal and up toward Mt St Helens National Monument. The road is narrow and kinda twisty as they work their way through the forest and then start heading up the mountains. You catch a glimse of the mountain here and there. Then:

Being good tourists that we are we couldn't pass up a photo opprotunity. The hard part, as always is getting the bikes to settle down long enough to actually get them lined up and the other tourists out of OUR picture.

Once you get to Windy Ridge you are looking directly into the blast crater. There are about 340 steps up the ridge from the parking lot to where you can get a great view of Spirit Lake.

The lake is still covered with logs from the forest that was leveled almost 30 yrs ago.

The peak in the background of the lake is Mt Rainier. You could also see Mt Adams and Mt Hood.

What a great way to spend a Sunny Northwest Morning!

**schoeney** · 07-20-2009, 12:30 AM

That was quick Charlie. Great pics and enjoyed the ride.

P.S. Thanks for letting me check out your seat! OOOPs...shouln't have said that out loud.

lw · 07-20-2009, 06:32 AM

Looks like a great day was had by all. Thanks for letting us tag along. :)

Netnorske · 07-20-2009, 02:38 PM

Charlie...thanks for doing the heavy lifting with this post... ;)!

This was indeed a banner ride for us all. Mt. St. Helens is an unbelievable and monumental display of Mother Nature's ability to change the landscape in ways that it's almost humanly impossible to comprehend. Seeing it up close and personal you realize how insignificant we as human beings are on this great Earth.

30 years after the blast....vegetation is still sparse. You can see in the backround of some of these photos part of what is known as the "Blast Zone"...areas where standing forests were completely obliterated in a matter of seconds. Truly overwhelming to see with your own eyes.

I would gladly act as tour guide to any member(s) who would like to make the trek up to the northwest to see it for themselves. You think the Needles Highway was impressive...?? To be honest, I was underwhelmed just a bit only because of the myriad of challenging mountain rides we have available here in the NW.

I wish my wife had been along to take some "on the fly" photos of FS Rd 99 (road to Windy Ridge). You would sh*t yourself just looking at them, let alone riding it!

Here are a few additional photos from the day.....enjoy!

Tres Nomads and one decimated mountain.....

Stairway to heaven....going up.....

Looking back down......

Top of Windy Ridge.....what a backdrop, eh...??

Greg, Dan, Larry and Charlie head back down......

duneseven · 07-20-2009, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the pics they are great. I should have gotten off my ass and tagged along. The weather looks perfect

Netnorske · 07-20-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duneseven

Thanks for the pics they are great. I should have gotten off my ass and tagged along. The weather looks perfect

Yes you should have.....and indeed it was.....

!

**schoeney** · 07-21-2009, 03:28 AM

Hey Kris,

Great pics and thanks for sending the other ones via email. Had a blast (pun intended....someone explain to Kris).

pirate · 07-21-2009, 02:10 PM

Cool pics guys! Thanks for sharing those.

dolanz · 07-28-2009, 05:09 PM

You got one of those rare wonderful NW days. Thanks for sharing the photos.

I hope you caught the movie at the visitors center, it was very cool.

cantridenuf · 07-28-2009, 08:18 PM

Thanks for sharing you guys. My wife is from Longview so I know the area well. Beautiful country.

**Jared** · 08-13-2009, 05:54 PM

I'll be going there next week and after seeing your pics, I'm very excited. Looks beautiful!!

cactusjack · 08-14-2009, 10:33 AM

That's one place I have wanted to see for years. I have been to Portland on business a few times, but that's as close as I've gotten to the PNW. I'll make it up there some day.

Charlie, any idea what the elevation is where you were standing by the lake?

rickyboy · 08-14-2009, 10:42 PM

Looks like you had a great day Kris, Greg, Ballast. I wish I could have made the ride with you. Another day.

C'mon over Scott, and you and I can take Kris up on his offer to escort us to the site. Make a plan to ride west young man.

vorlon · 09-04-2009, 08:44 PM

Nice Nomad pic's. I remember the morning it blew! Would love to see it up close.

07-19-2009, 09:40 PM	#1
ballast Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orting, WA Posts: 1,394	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Had a great ride today. Met up with Dan, a coworker on his Vstrom or storm or whatever it is. Anyway it had 2 wheels so I took him along. Rode about 45 miles south to Morton where we met up with Kris, Greg and his friend Larry. From there we headed out through Randal and up toward Mt St Helens National Monument. The road is narrow and kinda twisty as they work their way through the forest and then start heading up the mountains. You catch a glimse of the mountain here and there. Then: Being good tourists that we are we couldn't pass up a photo opprotunity. The hard part, as always is getting the bikes to settle down long enough to actually get them lined up and the other tourists out of OUR picture. Once you get to Windy Ridge you are looking directly into the blast crater. There are about 340 steps up the ridge from the parking lot to where you can get a great view of Spirit Lake. The lake is still covered with logs from the forest that was leveled almost 30 yrs ago. The peak in the background of the lake is Mt Rainier. You could also see Mt Adams and Mt Hood. What a great way to spend a Sunny Northwest Morning! __________________ Charlie "Ballast" Krogh 2005 1600 Nomad "Tangerine Dream" VBA #999 VROC #29355 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-20-2009, 12:30 AM	#2
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge That was quick Charlie. Great pics and enjoyed the ride. P.S. Thanks for letting me check out your seat! OOOPs...shouln't have said that out loud. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
	0

07-20-2009, 06:32 AM	#3
lw Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 2,117	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Looks like a great day was had by all. Thanks for letting us tag along. :)
	0

07-20-2009, 02:38 PM	#4
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Charlie...thanks for doing the heavy lifting with this post... ;)! This was indeed a banner ride for us all. Mt. St. Helens is an unbelievable and monumental display of Mother Nature's ability to change the landscape in ways that it's almost humanly impossible to comprehend. Seeing it up close and personal you realize how insignificant we as human beings are on this great Earth. 30 years after the blast....vegetation is still sparse. You can see in the backround of some of these photos part of what is known as the "Blast Zone"...areas where standing forests were completely obliterated in a matter of seconds. Truly overwhelming to see with your own eyes. I would gladly act as tour guide to any member(s) who would like to make the trek up to the northwest to see it for themselves. You think the Needles Highway was impressive...?? To be honest, I was underwhelmed just a bit only because of the myriad of challenging mountain rides we have available here in the NW. I wish my wife had been along to take some "on the fly" photos of FS Rd 99 (road to Windy Ridge). You would sht yourself just looking at them, let alone riding it! Here are a few additional photos from the day.....enjoy! Tres Nomads and one decimated mountain..... Stairway to heaven....going up..... Looking back down...... Top of Windy Ridge.....what a backdrop, eh...?? Greg, Dan, Larry and Charlie head back down...... __________________ Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
	0

07-20-2009, 07:57 PM	#5
duneseven Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: spokane WA. Posts: 535	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Thanks for the pics they are great. I should have gotten off my ass and tagged along. The weather looks perfect Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-21-2009, 03:28 AM	#7
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Hey Kris, Great pics and thanks for sending the other ones via email. Had a blast (pun intended....someone explain to Kris). __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
	0

07-21-2009, 02:10 PM	#8
pirate Sr. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,865	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Cool pics guys! Thanks for sharing those.
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07-28-2009, 05:09 PM	#9
dolanz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 91	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge You got one of those rare wonderful NW days. Thanks for sharing the photos. I hope you caught the movie at the visitors center, it was very cool.
	0

07-28-2009, 08:18 PM	#10
cantridenuf Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 258	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Thanks for sharing you guys. My wife is from Longview so I know the area well. Beautiful country.
	0

08-13-2009, 05:54 PM	#11
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge I'll be going there next week and after seeing your pics, I'm very excited. Looks beautiful!! __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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08-14-2009, 10:33 AM	#12
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge That's one place I have wanted to see for years. I have been to Portland on business a few times, but that's as close as I've gotten to the PNW. I'll make it up there some day. Charlie, any idea what the elevation is where you were standing by the lake? __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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08-14-2009, 10:42 PM	#13
rickyboy Top Contributor Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 108 Mile Ranch B.C. Canada Posts: 5,472	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Looks like you had a great day Kris, Greg, Ballast. I wish I could have made the ride with you. Another day. C'mon over Scott, and you and I can take Kris up on his offer to escort us to the site. Make a plan to ride west young man. __________________ Nomad'a What ! "rickyboy" Richard Cole Canada West Region 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia Canada Vulcan Bagger Assoc. #00722 Black 2006 Nomad https://cdn2.iconfinder.com/data/ico...Book_32x32.png
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09-04-2009, 08:44 PM	#14
vorlon Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 178	Mt St. Helens Windy Ridge Nice Nomad pic's. I remember the morning it blew! Would love to see it up close.
	0

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