Louwala-Clough, if you don't mind

When Capt. George Vancouver went traipsing around the seas at our continent's west end some two hundred years or so ago, he continued the British bad habit of renaming waterways, localities and other landmarks after his patrons, friends and royalty. Thus, we have come to know the nearby geological wonder not as Louwala-Clough [or "smoking or fire mountain," in the language of the local Klickitats] but instead as Mount St. Helens, so named after a now-obscure English diplomat and Vancouver buddy, Alleyne Fitzherbert, 1st Baron of St. Helens.

Judging by the mountain's rumblings of the past few days, it would seem the Klickitats were right all along. Very soon, if local news reports are to be believed, even more of Lord St. Helens' memorial will be pulverized into gravel and ash. Here's hoping that this time, no one is harmed.

Comments

[adams]

I've been watching the news every day on CNN. duh, it never occurred to me to look at the local news for the bigger story. Somewhere I read that the coming "small to medium" eruption could blow rocks and debris up to 3 miles. They are saying it's a "cone building event" probably... all in all, it's fascinating.

[Worldwide Pablo]

All of a sudden, the Ape Caves side of Mount St. Helens ... er ... Louwala-Clough ... doesn't seem so safe now, eh?

[lida gill]

my husband was mowing the lawn at our home in tukwila wash on may 18, 1980. I was inside the house and I heard an explosion, went outside and saw the plume of ash in the sky. my grandfather passed away that day and I will never forget that day.