On the evening of May 18, 1980, and in the days that followed, I found myself glued to the television, captivated by the eruption of Mount St. Helens. I was living in New Mexico at the time so the ash, mud flow and lengthy cleanup that followed was more than 1400 miles away, and it wasn’t until 2023 that I finally had the opportunity to explore the area that had intrigued my inner geology enthusiast. My oldest daughter and I attended a birding event, where we walked through the towering remnants of mud left by the lahars from that fateful day. I was truly awestruck by the physical evidence of volcanic power, evident in the depth of the mud deposits at the mountain's base. While it was fascinating to visit the site of the eruption that had captivated my attention forty-three years prior I still feet a twinge of envy for those who were closer to the mountain and witnessed the planet's raw power first hand.
Mike Cairns is one of those people. At 12:30pm on the day of the eruption Washington Army National Guard helicopter pilot Captain Mike Cairns flew beneath the ash cloud of the volcano – a feat never before attempted in history. In the challenging days that followed, as Mike, his crew, and fellow National Guard pilots flew numerous search, rescue, and recovery missions, he documented the devastation they encountered with photographs taken with his own 35mm camera. Those missions, over 600 in all, would lead to Mike, two other pilots and five crew members receiving the Valley Forge Cross, the National Guard’s highest honor for heroism.
Author Talks with Mike Cairns
TRL is excited to host a Mike at the following library branches: Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Montesano, and Yelm (click for dates and times of each presentation). He will share his experiences as a helicopter pilot in the Washington Army National Guard during the rescue and recovery operations following the eruption. While flying these missions, Mike captured the devastation he witnessed through his 35 mm camera, and he’ll recount his stories and showcase photographs, including some that have never been shared on a national platform until now. His presentation is based on his book, Under The Ash, which features previously unseen images from the rescue and recovery missions, along with narratives about his experiences and those of his crew members during that challenging time.
Check out the list below for material available at Timberland Regional Libraries about Mount St. Helens, the eruption and the aftermath, including Mike's book, Under the Ash.
