Carl Hachenberger, a resident of Northeast Washington, provided GoNorthwest.com with previously unpublished photographs of an approaching dark cloud of volcanic ash and other debris from the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens as it approached his position near Spokane, Washington, some 240 miles (386km) northeast of Mount St. Helens.

Carl wrote, "Back in 1980, when St. Helen blew, I was almost at the Fairchild air show when the radio reported what had happen and the show was canceled. Instead of retreating back to Spokane, I took the road north off Highway 2 to a hilltop overlooking the area and the approaching cloud. I had my late father's 1936 Contax II camera and five rolls of 35mm Kodak Color film. Standing on the hill, I took five complete 360º panoramic overlapping pictures of the cloud development from 12:15 PM to 12:29 until I ran out of film."

Carl wished that his photos be made available to the public. He passed away in April 2004 and we are grateful to Carl and his family for making these remarkable photographs available for you to see.

Click on the following links to see Carl's five panoramic photos taken as the wall of darkness rolled in:
Sunday, May 18, 1980, 12:15pm (280kb)
Sunday, May 18, 1980, 12:18pm (250kb)
Sunday, May 18, 1980, 12:21pm (245kb)
Sunday, May 18, 1980, 12:25pm (267kb)
Sunday, May 18, 1980, 12:29pm (259kb)

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Eruption The Untold Story Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens by Steve Olson. Learn the history and science of one of the largest eruptions and the effects of the aftermath through personal stories and accounts of those caught in the disaster. Illustrations and maps enable a greater understanding of this tragic event. Order now...

Day Hiking Mt St Helens Day Hiking Mount St. Helens by Craig Romano and Aaron Theison. This Mountaineers Book features every trail within and around the monument. Hikes are arranged by regions with trail descriptions, directions to trailheads and difficulty ratings along with other useful information and photographs. Order now...

Mount St. Helens 35th Mount St. Helens 35th Anniversary Edition: The Eruption and Recovery of a Volcano by Rob Carson. Along with remarkable before-and-after images, this 35th-anniversary retrospective captures the human drama leading up to the eruption and two decades of subsequent scientific research of the amazing post-blast ecological recovery. Order now...

A Falcon Guide to Mount St. Helens A Falcon Guide to Mount St. Helens: A Guide to Exploring the Great Outdoors by Fred Barstad. This book is a comprehensive guide to this world-renowned attraction, with a close-up look at the destruction and recovery of the area. The guide includes detailed information on the natural and cultural history of the area, recreational opportunities, and historical, geological, and natural exhibits. Order now...

In the Blast Zone: Catastrophe and Renewal on Mount St. Helens In the Blast Zone: Catastrophe and Renewal on Mount St. Helens by Charles Goodrich, Kathleen Dean Moore and Frederick Swanson. This book presents a cross-pollination of literary and scientific perspectives on the mountain's history of cataclysm and renewal. Discover the gifts of beauty, scientific illumination and of hope. Order now...

Portrait of Mount St. Helens: A Changing Landscape Portrait of Mount St. Helens: A Changing Landscape by Chuck Williams (Author) and Stuart Warren (Contributor). View the grandeur and the intimate detail of this beloved mountain as seen by 19th-century painters and pioneers as well as contemporary photographers. Order now...

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