"The first step to seedling identification on the Mt. St. Helens pumice plain is to take a long hike over blackened, unstable rocks, which were obviously put there for your harm. These rocks are infested with all sorts of huge, nasty spiders. On the hike you pass all sorts of creeks and streams which are rushing down the mountain. The water in these streams is cement gray from its trip down the ash covered mountain side. All you see the entire time is barren rolling plains and huge barren hills and ridges. Looming above this wasteland is the giant blackened mouth of the mountain. It reminds me of how books and movies always depict the gate to the underworld. In the middle of this hell, however, you see tiny seedlings and shrubs, and you are reminded that this was once a lush green paradise. To think that things could change so quickly in a matter of seconds is awe-striking. This place is truly amazing."

-Ben Allmand, Ocosta High School

     "Getting to watch the mountain so close was absolutely an amazing experience. Actually being right in front of the the crater was great. Getting a better view of the inside and the lava dome was awesome. The mountain was nice to look at and I think we were all very privileged by getting to be out there right in front of it."

-Juan Medina, Highland High School

     "Hot thermal vents heat up water as it pours out natural springs. The water is hot enough for tea and has so many minerals and bacteria in it because of the heat it built up coming out from the lava dome. On the other side, a clear blue stream and a stream with murky gray-colored water flows together, murky from the original snow melt, gray from eroding ash—cold as well. As they come together and join, the colors cross over and combine into a clear blue, slightly murky coloration of beautiful flow in the east gully inside the crater. Rock falls go on constantly behind and in front of us. Huge 30' boulders hit high speeds and release thunderous roars from the other side of the crater from where we are located. Amazing. You can't compare anything to what I felt and the experience I shared with the WTA. Our gully, steep on both sides with constant ability to dazzle and amaze the teenage eye, going down snow bridges, it's so exhilarating. Mounds of sediment gather as snow melts. Amazing. Coming out of the canyon after crossing the narrow creek back and forth, back and forth we come 200 yards from the end, a 200' waterfall with a dead drop off overlooking the huge, vast pumice plains which we enjoy from a safe distance. We went down and around the waterfall by way of steep sloped banks covered with loose sediment and shale leading out of the awe-striking, dashing, huge crater. The best experience of a lifetime, getting to venture into the crater of Mt. St. Helens where only 50-100 people get to go each year! It was just amazing.
      Vast plains of just nothing is all there is. Large loose pumice and daysite rock all over. Rocks sink into the unsettled terrain/soil when you step on them. There are very little plants in the crater. Pure vastness. Spirit Lake still has logs floating, after 22 years. It's amazing. I'm impressed. Peter told us that the black streaks, or volcanic intrusions on the west side of the crater were dikes. The dikes were once magma that rose out of the earth's core and filled cervices, caves and cracks inside the volcano, creating black rock ridges. So these dikes now look like little ridges (black) inside the steep hillside within the crater wall. The rocks around them are all different colors. They are basalt or some other sort of volcanic rock. These are the stories I will tell my grandchildren. It was purely amazing and was an experience of a lifetime I'll never forget."

-Kyle Breakey, Highland High School

     "We began our hike at the Loowit Trailhead and started out along a well established trail. We hiked along that for about two miles until we cut off the trail and went "off road" along a creek bed. There were big rocks in the creek bed for us to walk on so we wouldn't break a trail and thereby left no trace. Then we traversed across the pumice plains for about two and a half miles. We then reached the first plot, where we did our research. The second day we hiked out to the same first plot then went another sixty meters to the second plot and finished our research at the end of the day."

-Caleb Roberson, Cle Elum-Roslyn High School

     "After working hard each day and even after establishing camp the first day, we were fed very well. Each night we topped off our stomachs with great healthy food. 5:00AM every morning we would wake up and indulge into a nice bowl of dry granola cereal and pour our own special milk remedy in it. The milk solution was one part powdered milk mix and one part nice lukewarm temperature water. Yuck! Let me tell you, that sure was one way to get going in the morning. For lunch we would keep it simple. Peanut butter and jelly on the trail with some sort of fruit and water we packed in. The PBS&J was either on bagels or bread. Bum! To top the day off, each night two kids would help produce the meal for dinner. We had spaghetti, burritos, Thai food, hot dogs, and chili to name a few. With or in the main dish was a wide variety of vegetables and fresh mountain spring water to wash it down. We were fed very well and it tasted great."

-Kyle Brake, Highland High School