For days the mountain rumbled.

And then today, on Friday, October 1st, 2004 at approximately 12:04 Pacific Daylight Time (3 pm EDT) and at 15:14 (6 pm EDT), Washington's Mount St. Helens erupted steam and ash after an eighteen year slumber.

The 8,364-foot volcano is located in Kelso, Washington about 30 miles south of Seattle.

It is part of a volcanic "ring of fire" so vast that it encircles the Pacific Ocean.

AP Photo/Steve Shelton

Here the mountain stands idle thirty minutes after the explosion. No lava flow took place from the crater. However, steam and ash reached 16,000 feet in altitude, said Mike Fergus, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration in Seattle.

REUTERS/Jim Valance/USGS

On May 18th 1980, Mt. Saint Helens blew its top with cataclysmic force, spreading ash across North America. 57 people were killed. And towns up to 250 miles away were showered with rock and ash.

Today, Alaska Airlines was forced to cancel two flights. However, no evacuations were ordered.

Those seeking adventure, took off up towards Johnston Ridge to catch a glimpse of the activity.

"Watch your ash up there!" was the send-off they got from the more conservative folks who were happy to witness the power of the mountain from afar.

Those who were able to see the twenty-minute natural phenomenon likened it to a dragon blowing smoke.

After the devastation that occurred 24 years ago, few people live close to the mountain. The structure nearest the mountain is the Johnston Ridge Observatory. It is about five miles from the crater.

Scientists warned that people living southwest of the mountain may notice a fine film of ash on their cars.

For the past week, scientists have detected thousands of earthquakes of increasing strength — as high as 3.3 magnitude — suggesting another eruption was on the way. Steam frequently rises from the crater, but the 8,364-foot peak had not erupted since 1986.

"This is exactly the kind of event we've been predicting," said U.S. Geological Survey scientist Cynthia Gardner.

For information regarding Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument go to:

For those curious about one of America's most famous natural disasters which took place at 8:32am on May 18, 1980, consider watching the DVD The Eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and awe-inspired living!

~ Jennifer King