Echoes of the Mountain: History Shaping the Future

Welcome to “Echoes of the Mountain: History Shaping the Future” — a special podcast series exploring the rich history, resilience, and future of the communities shaped by Mount St. Helens.

We’ll journey through the landscapes forever changed by the 1980 eruption, hear from those who lived through it, and discover how these rivers and valleys continue to connect us.

This podcast is proudly produced by Lower Columbia Rotaract, with support from the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments and the Cowlitz Historical Museum. It’s part of the Spirit Lake Toutle / Cowlitz Rivers Collaborative Mount St. Helens Project, honoring our past while looking ahead to what’s next for this incredible region.

So whether you’re a longtime local, a curious visitor, or someone who loves a good story of nature, history, and community — you’re in the right place.

Figure 1: Mount St. Helens steam and ash eruption on March 27, 1980. Photo courtesy of USGS.

Figure 2: Spirit Lake Lodge, Gifford Pinchot Nation Forest, February 9, 1974. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service.