Salt Spring Island and Mt. St. Helens

July 2004

Mom visited us for a fun week of exploring Salt Spring Island off the east coast of Vancouver Island, and then climbing to the top of Mt. St. Helens to celebrate her 60th birthday!

Rocky shoreline in front of Erin Brook Cottage

 

On the trail up to the top of Mt. Erskine, we came upon several mysterious gnome doors... one in this tree and the other in a rock

 

The views from on top of Mt. Erskine were great, looking out across the channels and neighboring islands that lay between Salt Spring and Vancouver Island beyond

 

On top of Mt. Erskine

 

Mom practicing her relaxing skills at Erin Brook Cottage

 

Enjoying the weather on the porch of Erin Brook

 

Ramshackle floating hippy homes that rise and fall with the tides

 

At a sustainable farm which grew organic food and created interesting wood furniture, there was this building that had walls made of bottles held together by mortar

 

After eating a good meal at a waterfront restaurant in the little town of Vesuvius, we went to the beach of this nearby bay to watch the sun set over the sailboats

 

The lower elevations of the south face hike up Mt. St. Helens travels through forest

 

Mt. Adams keeps Mom company on a rest break while ascending Mt. St. Helens

 

With the lower forests long gone, the climb up Mt. St. Helens turns into boulder fields and loose pumice soil

 

Maybe a little tired, but Mom pushes on as she nears the top rim

 

On top of the Mt. St. Helens volcanic rim, sitting on the edge looking at the 360 degree world around us! (the crater, Spirit Lake, and Mt. Rainier are behind us here)

 

Standing on the rim of Mt. St. Helens, with Mt. Adams in the distance. Mom is showing off the custom shirt we made for her: "I'm not over the hill... I'm on TOP of it!"

 

And in honor of Mom's 60th birthday on this day, we also brought a surprise high altitude birthday cupcake...

 

Click here for interactive 360 degree panorama from the rim of Mt. St. Helens