2013-4-14 Exploring Mount Saint Helens Lava Tubes

This weekend my friend and caving enthusiast James brought me to a few lesser known caves South of Mount Saint Helens. We had classic Washington weather throughout the day ranging from rain to sunshine to hail. Most of the day it was warmer and drier underground, the wettest part of the caves being the mossy entrances.





We went through several very tight squeezes and at one point found ourselves in an expansive chamber that seemed to be at least 30'x40' with root-filled ceilings no more than 3 feet high. We encountered some lava stalactites and stalagmites, some that were shiny and metallic due to a high aluminum content.

















Here are a few long exposure shots that James took:

I had lots of fun, thanks for being my guide James! For information on Washington caves contact the Cascade Grotto