The road to Mt. St. Helens via Windy Ridge will open on Friday, August 5th. Normally, it opens in May, but there was a lot of snow (like 15 feet) over much of National Forest Road 25 leading there only a few weeks ago. I would expect that while the road will be the same, the scenery will look much different.
I have a meeting at church from about 8-9:30am and will leave right after that. So if you want to join me, let's meet at:
Calvary Chapel, Lynnwood
19504 24th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=calvary+chapel+lynnwood&oe=utf-8&client=firefox&fb=1&gl=us&cid=0,0,18174250489284242103&z=16&iwloc=A
Kickstands up by 9:45am.
(Please let me know if you're coming, because if the meeting finishes earlier, I'll leave earlier — unless I know to wait for you. ) There's a Shell station at the corner to fill up at, if needed.
I'll probably follow this Google Map route. http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=19504+24th+Avenue+West,+Lynnwood,+WA+98036-4868+(Calvary+Chapel+Lynnwood)&daddr=47.1586838,-122.4614246+to:Nat+for+Dev+Rd+99&hl=en&ll=46.562637,-122.00592&spn=0.693059,1.783905&sll=46.248487,-122.14282&sspn=0.043566,0.111494&geocode=FZ-y2QIdwly2-CG3qsFYh-g3_ClZW3eBcAWQVDGyfYGSGbn_wQ%3BFZuVzwIdEGOz-CnDrgn7oQGRVDHwgFOuseeh2w%3BFTCJwQIdujq4-A&gl=us&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=14&t=p&z=10&via=1
I went here last year. http://burgmanusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=48131&p=446524
The scenery was surrealistic. You go from dense forest into an area that increasingly becomes more and more bare, like a disaster scene...which it is. It is hard to chose between looking at all that beauty and wonder around you, and watching the road. But the road demands your attention, because there is one tight corner after another as the road follows the contours of the hillside leading up to the mountain. This is a ride where the destination is the ride.
BTW, that's an active volcano still.
It'll be a full day's ride. Bring your camera!
Please let me know if you plan to come for planning purposes.
Chris