Here's the first article I've written since graduating from college. It's about the media frenzy over Mount St. Helens and the dollars the volcano has brought in to the surrounding economy. Though I avoided discussing the whole thing on the blog, I guess St. Helens pulls everyone with an Oregon-based blog into her steamy and ashy grasp (sorry Courtney).
I've actually received a phone call from a reader complimenting me on it and sharing an anecdote of her own regarding the media and the 1980 eruption. In summary, a respected CBS reporter told her to fuck off when she politely asked him to move his TV crew's vehicle because it was blocking the way home for her.
I've had a busy week driving back and forth from Mount St. Helens and working on this piece and hanging out with friends. Maybe I'll have more on the whole volcano experience (and a couple of photos) later this week. Maybe.
I was going to head up there to take pictures last Wednesday but the weather took a turn for the worse. Is it actually possible to make out the peak (on cloudy days) from the areas the public can access?
I guess they reopened some of the roads yesterday though. Now all I need is a day off, a break in the clouds and no John Edwards around to distract me.
It depends on how low the clouds are. The first day I went up there (Wednesday, 10/6), the clouds covered the peak and I couldn't see anything, and neither could the crowds or media. On the next day, everything cleared up and you could definitely see a little steam coming out of St. Helens. It was pretty cool, but I bet the crowds were got to see a lot more over the weekend.
It's actually a little boring just staring at a mountain for hours, but the tourists, gift shop folk and other locals can make for interesting conversation. Also, I recommend getting lunch at the Toutle Diner.
Yeah, I wouldn't be going to gawk at the mountain but rather all the people gawking at the mountain.
Want volcano pics! And/or people-staring-at-the-volcano pics!
This whole watching-people-watch-things is all very Don DeLillo… Sho, I had no idea you were so post-modern! How sad.
But I can't begrudge anyone talking about the volcano anymore. I mean, there's *lava* now. LAVA! That pretty much is the coolest thing there is. Anyway, excellent story! Are there any media-types still up there?
Yeah, I forgot to put my name on that last post… sorry. :)
I went up there yesterday and stopped at the Toutle Diner on the way back. Their taco potatoes are excellent.
Awesome article, Sho! I've been telling people up here that one of my best friends is now a published journalist. It's too bad they didn't syndicate the article over to The Stranger; it would be just as interesting to the readers up here as to you Portlanders.
Taco potatoes? Those sound excellent. I had the Burger Dip, which was a patty melt with au jus dip.
It would be cool if the story were syndicated, but I doubt the Stranger would pick it up. Their sister publication is the Portland Mercury, and I doubt they'd publish something written by the Mercury's competitor.
I hope that cafe is one day franchised. I could use one of those in my neighborhood. On the other hand, I guess I could always make my own taco potatoes at home.
Suck my nuts, concept of sister publications. Is it Seattle Weekly, then?
Nope. It's owned by the Village Voice. Willamette Week is owned by the City of Roses Newspaper Company, which also ownes the weekly in Santa Fe. I doubt Santa Feans(-ites? -ers?) are interested much in Saint Helens.