Learn about the historic 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens from a unique, new perspective as I fly a small airplane over the mountain and discuss it’s’s volcanic history. A combination of both modern aerial footage and stunning archival footage, this video documents the history of the mountain leading up to the eruption and its immediate destructive aftermath. You will also see how the mountain looks today and how the area is still affected 42 years after the eruption.
41 Comments
You picked a beautiful day for the flight, thanks for the video. I’ve made that flight a number of times over the years and it never gets old. Most recently in a C150 from Auburn. Boy, was that a long, slow trip!
Great video. I remember the event well. I was in graduate school at the University of Wyoming at the time. The ash from the eruption created the most beautiful red sunsets for a long, long time. Ash also fell from the sky afterwards. In 1983, I went for a flight in a small plane and the only colors evident were brightly-colored algae in the streams. It was amazing to see any evidence of life among a moonscape full of tree-sized toothpicks.
Nothing better than these aerial shots… gives the most incredible view … would love to see your take on Monument Valley and Grand Canyon too. Then perhaps Sedona … Zions NP … On your way out of Oregon, hit Crater Lake for sure! After watching this, I definitely am going to fly up there and see the same. Also the San Juan Islands are incredible and so easy to reach with GA. You can camp right under your wing at Orcas Island. Thanks Wolfi !!!
In my neck of the woods! I’ve been waiting for some more videos from you. Thanks!
Very cool.. I was just shy of my twelfth birthday when she went up. Amazing how much devastation that event caused. It makes you have a tremendous respect for nature… and shows how insignificant we all are on this planet. Well done.
Awesome job! Thanks for sharing the rest of the story.
GET RID OF THE ADS
My new favorite video of yours!!
Another quality video from you. As a 17 year old, I was in Spokane and remember the aftermath. Thanks for the nostalgia.
Your best flying video yet! Beautifully edited, fabulous camera work! Loved the story telling. Gonna watch several more times and take notes!
Great video! How close is it safe to fly near Mt. St. Helens? I hear the winds around the mountain can create tricky flying conditions.
So glad to see you back and with such a fine installment in (what I will call) your “Grand Geology” series. Thank you very much for posting. Another timely installment might be Lake Meade. I would also be interested in a Salton Sea episode and (as another poster suggested) a Monument Valley fly-through (with all the planning and self-announce details). I hope the puppy adapts to the Tiger and can go along soon…
That is something I always wanted to do. I was 15 when Mount St Helens erupted.
Hi Wolficorn, love the video mate! I was wondering if you could film a video flying up and the Colorado River? Although this might be a multi part vid!
Very cool. You've got an obvious talent for telling this kind of story and you personal interest in the subject matter shines through. I always look forward to watching you videos.
Excellent video, I was living in Regina Sask., Canada then and the residual ash and smoke was present there.
Thanks for the content too, awesome!👍🇨🇦
Being only 6 at the time of the eruption, my memory is mostly from my grandfather, who had a brother living somewhere in Washington state at that time. I don't recall where, but he was close enough that they got a significant amount of ash from the eruption, some of which I have to this day.
On another note. Come on Youtube Algorithm. Push Wolfi's videos out to more people. He deserves to be seen with his top-notch content!
Well done! Nice blend of education and aviation.
That was fantastic. I remembered this also from when I was a kid and remember being taught about in high school later. The information and production in this video was top quality – I think your best work yet – and I hope you get the recognition you deserve.
Excellent.
Superb video – very enjoyable and a very professional production – you deserve way more views and subscribers!
I like the video, but to really get a feel for the magnitude of the eruption, your going to have to come get me and fly me over the volcano. Ha ha. I remember when it went off too, I was living in the bay area and we could see the plume of ash from Walnutcreek, CA.
Great Stuff!
Bryan, I love it that my favorite YouTube storyteller (seriously) is back telling stories!! And what a thunderous story this is. Thanks! Wayne (DA40 KSBA)
Mannn I was just there and in the area for work. Should have found someone to take me for a flight
So good. So good. I could watch these all day.
as usual enjoyed the video. so cool to be in your front seat as i could never afford to do that on my own! thanks for putting in your time and energy … its appreciated and enjoyed!
Beautifully done. Loved the history, background music, editing. Very professionally done and informative.
Awesome video!
Good Job Brother. I can only imagine as you were flying over you were like.. what if?
Can you do a fly over Mt. Hood?
Great job on this.
Wow! Great production!
Dude, that kicked ass. Loved every minute. Giant Rock in Landers CA has quite a history to it. A man blew himself up, living under it way back when. There's some stories on YouTube, but I don't think I've seen anything from an ariel perspective.
I will add my own "mom" comment later, but this is from my 13 year old daughter… 🙂
"It was really, really cool seeing someone go right next to the mountain. I love the part with the time lapse photography. I've been studying Mt. St. Helens and we have thunder eggs from the eruption.
I want you to fly over Mt. Vesuvius next. I have studied that too."
Who edits these? Spectacular job!
Fantastic production. Bravo sir
Just awesome Wolfi. I was based out of KWHP several years ago and remember meeting you at the fuel pit. I was grateful at that time to thank you for making these. I grew up in Socal and love the desert. Your video on the Burro Schmidt tunnel was great. I have been there several times. I also flew over the San Andreas fault, inspired by your work, and also to the Victorville staging area after the 737 Max debacle, again inspired by your videos. Please keep up the great content. If you are ever in the Boise area, I have a hangar in Caldwell and you are welcome to park there if in the area. Thank you again for the great videos and info. P.S. I was 23 years old when Mt. St. Helens erupted. I had to wonder at the time if this was the beginning of the end. Seattle was pitch black for days due to the ash in the air. I have since visited by land. It was spectacular.
Another outstanding documentary from you. I remember that day and the blanket of ash that it spred across the state clogging car air filters and everything else. Thanks.
Very cool! Like that…greetings from Germany!
So I wanted to put my own comment here, since I let my kid comment first.
Please keep making videos. We homeschool, and my youngest kid has dyslexia so videos are the BEST.
We somehow found out about videos made by a company called Awesome Science Media and there is one about Mt St Helens and the trees that compares them to the petrified forest in Yellowstone that was fascinating. And she read the book "I Survived the Eruption of Mt. St. Helens", so your video here was timely and well received! 🙂
You could seriously have a huge homeschool fan base if you continue and keep the videos clean and educational.
My daughter wants to know which airport you mainly fly out of? Is it Fullerton? We saw Torrance in the oil spill one.