Legends & Tales Of Mount St. Helens

All Souls Eve At The Lake Of Spirits

--Bruer, DJ | 2012—October

Since 2007, strange happening occurring at Mount St. Helens wasn't anything new to me. My visit to Mount St. Helens on October 30th 2012, was a rare trip, for I tend to visit only in the summer, but I couldn't help to set aside the chance to help the institute, work with Charlie and visit the southeast shore of Spirit Lake--a place forbidden to tourist and even Mount Stewards, like myself.

Spirit Lake is a place that many are not allowed to visit, because it is a restricted area, preserved only for science, but also the area is very dangerous even to scientists!

Much of the South Shore is stinky marsh land, but the danger lies within the lake. The shoreline extends out about 20 feet into the lake, and is about 3 feet deep, with one foot deep in sticky mud. Then it suddenly drops off to around 70 feet instantly. The northeast cove is deep and impossible to get out unless you know the old YMCA trail. The northwest cove, like the northeast cove can only been traverse from the ridge, then a tricky hike down the Bear Creek to Bear Cove. The lake is only 35 degrees year-round, and the weather surrounding the lake can change immediately from sunny to foggy.

According to Native Americans, Spirit Lake is a spiritual place that should not be disturbed for odd paranormal activity may occur.

Heading to Spirit Lake, Justin, Bob, Katherine, Charlie, and myself headed down to the end of the 25 road. The trip was scary as we drove on a road that was covered in snow, mud, and flowing earth. One wrong turn, and it is a 300-foot plunge down to the bottom.

When we arrived at the parking lot, we hiked 2.5 miles to Spirit Lake, bushwacking all the way there. When we arrived at the lake's shoreline, I pulled out my digital camera and snapped off two images...but then the battery was drained. So, I pulled out my IPOD to take more photos, but the battery was also drained.

I was saddened...how was I to document this trip for the Forest Service...well it certainly wasn't going to be by photo!

I asked the others to take pictures for me, as my gear wasn't working. However, as they took out their own cameras and cellphones--they were also dead. Bob checked his watch, and even its battery had stopped working once we reached Spirit Lake. If it was electronic, it didn't work here.

Unable to properly document the experience, we went to work. I followed Charlie and Bob into Spirit Lake, heading to a floating paddle boat.

Walking in Spirit Lake was surreal as the volcanic ash clouded the water with every footstep. Most of the lake was about a foot deep, but there were areas where it would drop off to about five feet deep, soaking both Bob and I.

The water was freezing cold and it smelled putrid, like rotting eggs! It didn't help that there were geothermal vents in this area, contributing to the odor. The water flowed into my boots and soaked my pants...the cold water successfully numbed the skin and made my feet feel like lead weights.

With the boat dragged up a hummock to weather the winter, we started back toward the SUV, carrying research equipment through the alders and birch. The equipment weighed us down to around 70 pounds each.

Carrying the supplies uphill, the wind became stronger the further that we walked away from Spirit Lake. The wind beat us back with every step, strange sounds echoed throughout the Spirit Lake basin. This day became strange and the events were about to become even stranger.

Falling behind, Katherine walked with me as we walked up the basin...the wind beat us back...every step was torture...one step up, two steps back. Katherine asked a question that I was not quite expecting to hear.

"What would happen if you were to take a piece of wood from the lake?" she asked.

I looked back, stunned "The Spirit Of The Lake is known to guard against thieves. I would advise against taking anything from the lake!"

"What are the warning signs of the Spirit Of The Lake?" she asks as she looks around, seeming paranoid.

"The spirit, also known as See'atco is known to give early warning signs of its arrival with wind, noises like chirps, whistles, growls, and voices." I speak.

"Voices?" she asks.

I nod my head, "Correct...voices...people voices. People that you know and trust with your life." I say as Katherine and I walk upward towards the headwaters of an unnamed creek.

Katharine pulls out a few pieces of wood from her pocket, "What if I put them back?" she asked, scared.

I look at the pieces of wood and wonder about the question. There was no information on how to appease the ancient elemental See'atco, also known to some as Seatco...depending on where you're at.

"Guess it wouldn't hurt." I comment.

Katharine drops the wood as we walk onward, battling wind and weird noises. The weather does not improve, even after reaching the vehicle. It becomes a torrent of rain, ice, thunder, and moaning winds.

All of us enter the vehicle knowing that the weather here isn't natural. The voices cease and the weather then rapidly improves as we reach Windy Ridge...far above the lake and the Spirit Lake Basin.

***

Afterwards, Katherine and Bob left the monument due to 'issues' that had followed them from the lakeshore to home. It got so bad that they had to move away from Mount St. Helens, and I would never hear from them ever again.