1 00:00:05,171 --> 00:00:09,140 (rumbling) 2 00:00:09,142 --> 00:00:13,177 Narrator: An unforgettable day in america's history. 3 00:00:15,079 --> 00:00:17,315 Officer: We had a major eruption occurring at 8:32 4 00:00:17,317 --> 00:00:20,048 Approximately this morning on mount st. Helens. 5 00:00:20,050 --> 00:00:22,619 Man: The top of the mountain seems to have been blown away. 6 00:00:22,621 --> 00:00:24,519 Man: This was a game changer. 7 00:00:24,521 --> 00:00:27,123 Narrator: The eruption of mount st. Helens 8 00:00:27,125 --> 00:00:30,927 Was the first of its kind ever filmed. 9 00:00:30,929 --> 00:00:35,898 The volcano unleashed four super-sized cataclysms. 10 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:40,535 First, the world's largest landslide ever recorded. 11 00:00:40,537 --> 00:00:46,677 Then, an explosion equivalent to 500 hiroshima bombs. 12 00:00:48,979 --> 00:00:53,081 Man: It was like you were being cremated alive. 13 00:00:53,083 --> 00:00:57,285 Narrator: Lethal mudflows. 14 00:00:57,287 --> 00:00:58,856 Sheriff: Get off the bridge! (whistles) 15 00:00:58,858 --> 00:01:01,927 Come on! Get over here! 16 00:01:01,929 --> 00:01:07,497 Narrator: And enough ash to cover 12 states. 17 00:01:07,499 --> 00:01:08,631 (thud) 18 00:01:08,633 --> 00:01:13,368 40 years on, digitally remastered archive, 19 00:01:13,370 --> 00:01:18,410 Eyewitness accounts, and animated photographs 20 00:01:18,412 --> 00:01:23,847 Reveal why this was the usa's deadliest volcano. 21 00:01:23,849 --> 00:01:28,284 Man: I really believed I had no chance of living through this. 22 00:01:28,286 --> 00:01:32,389 ♪ ♪ 23 00:01:37,995 --> 00:01:43,034 Narrator: Welcome to mount st. Helens, before 1980. 24 00:01:43,036 --> 00:01:45,101 Announcer: A haven for recreational activities 25 00:01:45,103 --> 00:01:46,772 And youth camps. 26 00:01:50,107 --> 00:01:54,913 A place as close to heaven as one could get. 27 00:01:54,915 --> 00:01:56,746 Narrator: The snow-capped giant 28 00:01:56,748 --> 00:02:00,384 Had slumbered for over a century, 29 00:02:00,386 --> 00:02:04,088 But that was about to change. 30 00:02:04,090 --> 00:02:11,025 ♪ ♪ 31 00:02:11,027 --> 00:02:13,163 ♪ ♪ 32 00:02:13,165 --> 00:02:15,129 Anchorman: There are rumblings of something big 33 00:02:15,131 --> 00:02:18,700 About to happen in washington state. 34 00:02:18,702 --> 00:02:23,408 Narrator: Deep beneath the northwest corner of the u.S., 35 00:02:23,410 --> 00:02:26,175 The giant was slowly waking. 36 00:02:28,615 --> 00:02:31,213 Reporter: An earthquake hitting 4.3 on the richter scale 37 00:02:31,215 --> 00:02:32,717 Shook the mountain. 38 00:02:32,719 --> 00:02:34,883 Reporter: The volcano is spewing a steady stream 39 00:02:34,885 --> 00:02:36,721 Of ash, smoke, and steam. 40 00:02:36,723 --> 00:02:42,058 Reporter: And experts say a major explosion is overdue. 41 00:02:42,060 --> 00:02:43,625 Narrator: The question was, 42 00:02:43,627 --> 00:02:47,966 When would the big eruption arrive? 43 00:02:47,968 --> 00:02:50,366 Don swanson, a volcanologist 44 00:02:50,368 --> 00:02:52,870 With the u.S. Geological survey, 45 00:02:52,872 --> 00:02:56,174 Was sent in to assess the danger. 46 00:02:56,176 --> 00:02:57,441 Don swanson: We're really sort of fumbling 47 00:02:57,443 --> 00:03:01,045 As to exactly what this means. 48 00:03:01,047 --> 00:03:04,749 You could see that there were cracks surrounding the crater, 49 00:03:04,751 --> 00:03:08,349 Where the summit had collapsed. 50 00:03:08,351 --> 00:03:11,287 The top of the volcano was a very unstable place, 51 00:03:11,289 --> 00:03:13,924 And it was breaking up. 52 00:03:13,926 --> 00:03:17,228 Narrator: Mount st. Helens had erupted before. 53 00:03:17,230 --> 00:03:21,799 It lies on one of the earth's most geologically active zones. 54 00:03:21,801 --> 00:03:23,599 Announcer: A huge linear fault system 55 00:03:23,601 --> 00:03:25,503 Melts millions of tons of rock. 56 00:03:25,505 --> 00:03:28,736 Announcer: Every so often, magma rises up into the mountain, 57 00:03:28,738 --> 00:03:31,841 And the mountain is ready to erupt. 58 00:03:31,843 --> 00:03:34,478 Narrator: Within a day of the first sign of ash, 59 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,349 Scientists were monitoring the volcano around the clock. 60 00:03:40,651 --> 00:03:43,419 A state of emergency was declared. 61 00:03:43,421 --> 00:03:45,457 Dixy lee ray: Don't go to mount st. Helens. 62 00:03:45,459 --> 00:03:48,490 Don't try to get as close to the mountain as possible. 63 00:03:48,492 --> 00:03:50,094 Reporter: Roadblocks have been set up. 64 00:03:50,096 --> 00:03:52,861 The public is prohibited from entering. 65 00:03:52,863 --> 00:03:54,498 Woman: How would you feel? 66 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:57,198 We're paying taxes, and we'd like to use our property. 67 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,369 I'm not afraid! 68 00:03:59,371 --> 00:04:02,740 Narrator: Deputy sheriff george barker was on duty. 69 00:04:02,742 --> 00:04:04,873 George barker: Right now people are coming in at their own risk, 70 00:04:04,875 --> 00:04:07,911 And they're signing in and out at this checkpoint. 71 00:04:07,913 --> 00:04:10,648 I was a brand-new deputy, and now all of a sudden 72 00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:13,548 They were talking about eruption and poison gases 73 00:04:13,550 --> 00:04:16,019 And lava and this kind of thing. 74 00:04:16,021 --> 00:04:21,690 It was all unknown, and it was like, wow, 75 00:04:21,692 --> 00:04:23,194 A real adventure. 76 00:04:25,962 --> 00:04:29,631 Narrator: Authorities marked out a restriction zone 77 00:04:29,633 --> 00:04:33,302 And evacuated hundreds of people. 78 00:04:33,304 --> 00:04:36,039 Man: You're gonna have to go, and the faster, the better. 79 00:04:36,041 --> 00:04:38,643 One time, you gotta go! 80 00:04:38,645 --> 00:04:43,281 Narrator: But one resident wouldn't budge--harry truman. 81 00:04:43,283 --> 00:04:48,918 He lived at spirit lake, inside the restriction zone. 82 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:50,618 Harry truman: Spirit lake and mount st. Helens is my life. 83 00:04:50,620 --> 00:04:52,122 Folks, I've lived there 50 years. 84 00:04:52,124 --> 00:04:53,656 It's a part of me. 85 00:04:53,658 --> 00:04:56,360 Barker: Truman thought, this is gonna be lava 86 00:04:56,362 --> 00:04:58,693 Coming rolling down the side of the mountain. 87 00:04:58,695 --> 00:05:01,631 You simply run away from it, you drive away from it. 88 00:05:01,633 --> 00:05:02,664 Truman: I'll get in my yacht 89 00:05:02,666 --> 00:05:03,735 And get out on the lake, 90 00:05:03,737 --> 00:05:05,035 Get away from that lava 91 00:05:05,037 --> 00:05:08,139 If it ever comes down this far, yeah. 92 00:05:08,141 --> 00:05:11,510 Narrator: Most of the world's volcanoes erupt upwards, 93 00:05:11,512 --> 00:05:14,210 Out of the top. 94 00:05:14,212 --> 00:05:16,680 But instead, mount st. Helens would erupt 95 00:05:16,682 --> 00:05:21,118 In a way rarely witnessed before. 96 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:26,055 ♪ ♪ 97 00:05:26,057 --> 00:05:31,093 On the north face, geologists noticed an ominous bulge. 98 00:05:31,095 --> 00:05:37,067 In a matter of weeks, it would expand by 450 feet. 99 00:05:37,069 --> 00:05:39,401 Swanson: These changes were unprecedented. 100 00:05:39,403 --> 00:05:43,005 There was more and more magma intruding into the volcano 101 00:05:43,007 --> 00:05:46,542 And pushing the north side outward. 102 00:05:46,544 --> 00:05:50,680 It was a really hectic time. 103 00:05:50,682 --> 00:05:53,850 Narrator: Don's team included a young geologist 104 00:05:53,852 --> 00:05:57,055 Called david johnston. 105 00:05:57,057 --> 00:05:58,455 David johnston: Its historic eruptions 106 00:05:58,457 --> 00:05:59,821 Have been very explosive. 107 00:05:59,823 --> 00:06:02,192 The initial phases would produce ashfall 108 00:06:02,194 --> 00:06:04,459 All over southwestern washington. 109 00:06:04,461 --> 00:06:06,563 Narrator: David would monitor the bulge 110 00:06:06,565 --> 00:06:09,433 From a ridge called south coldwater. 111 00:06:11,569 --> 00:06:14,671 Swanson: We were hoping that our monitoring 112 00:06:14,673 --> 00:06:18,642 Would show an increase in rate of the bulge movement 113 00:06:18,644 --> 00:06:20,675 Or something that we could use to say 114 00:06:20,677 --> 00:06:24,946 That the volcano was really building up to a culmination, 115 00:06:24,948 --> 00:06:26,617 But we never saw that. 116 00:06:28,619 --> 00:06:30,021 Narrator: For five weeks, 117 00:06:30,023 --> 00:06:32,521 The volcano intermittently rumbled 118 00:06:32,523 --> 00:06:36,125 And spewed gases and ash. 119 00:06:36,127 --> 00:06:37,962 Reporter: As scientists fumble for the truth, 120 00:06:37,964 --> 00:06:40,529 Everyone else is fumbling to get in on the act 121 00:06:40,531 --> 00:06:42,266 And make a fast buck. 122 00:06:42,268 --> 00:06:47,304 ♪ what kind of volcano merely burps up ash? ♪ 123 00:06:47,306 --> 00:06:50,108 ♪ we want lava, we want lava ♪ 124 00:06:50,110 --> 00:06:52,474 ♪ bubby dooby dooday ♪ 125 00:06:52,476 --> 00:06:54,545 Reporter: It draws people of all sorts. 126 00:06:54,547 --> 00:06:56,678 They come filled with wonder. 127 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,049 Man: That was just unbelievable! 128 00:06:59,051 --> 00:07:01,116 Man: I wanna see it blow. 129 00:07:01,118 --> 00:07:03,053 (laughs) it'd be great. 130 00:07:05,189 --> 00:07:11,128 Reporter: Sightseers crowded remote logging roads for a view. 131 00:07:11,130 --> 00:07:14,866 Those who tried hard enough could always find a way in. 132 00:07:17,568 --> 00:07:20,570 Narrator: The eruption would arrive with little warning 133 00:07:20,572 --> 00:07:24,407 And reach far beyond the restriction zone. 134 00:07:24,409 --> 00:07:28,111 (airplane engine starts) 135 00:07:32,517 --> 00:07:37,653 Geologist dorothy stoffel headed into the sky, 136 00:07:37,655 --> 00:07:40,190 Towards mount st. Helens. 137 00:07:43,896 --> 00:07:46,528 Dorothy stoffel: It was just a beautiful day. 138 00:07:46,530 --> 00:07:48,998 It was so serene. 139 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,602 Narrator: She'd been granted permission 140 00:07:51,604 --> 00:07:55,540 To photograph the volcano from the air. 141 00:07:55,542 --> 00:07:57,573 Stoffel: I thought, it's become dormant again, 142 00:07:57,575 --> 00:08:01,544 And we missed all the activity. 143 00:08:01,546 --> 00:08:04,481 But on the north side of the mountain, 144 00:08:04,483 --> 00:08:11,152 We could see water from melting snow and ice, 145 00:08:11,154 --> 00:08:16,727 As though the mountain was weeping on the north side. 146 00:08:16,729 --> 00:08:21,831 We just had no sense of anything going to happen. 147 00:08:21,833 --> 00:08:25,035 Narrator: The meltwater had fast-tracked the volcano 148 00:08:25,037 --> 00:08:28,006 To its deadly destiny. 149 00:08:28,008 --> 00:08:33,177 ♪ ♪ 150 00:08:33,179 --> 00:08:37,181 On the ground, 7,000 feet below dorothy, 151 00:08:37,183 --> 00:08:39,247 A student, catherine hickson, 152 00:08:39,249 --> 00:08:42,952 And her husband had been camping. 153 00:08:42,954 --> 00:08:45,389 Catherine hickson: We just had this beautiful panoramic view 154 00:08:45,391 --> 00:08:48,322 Of the volcano. 155 00:08:48,324 --> 00:08:50,926 Really not much was going on. 156 00:08:50,928 --> 00:08:53,330 The volcano was very quiet, 157 00:08:53,332 --> 00:08:57,735 But the dogs acted very strangely. 158 00:08:57,737 --> 00:09:01,439 You often hear about how animals react 159 00:09:01,441 --> 00:09:05,843 Prior to either an earthquake or an eruption or whatnot. 160 00:09:07,411 --> 00:09:09,047 Narrator: Catherine and her husband 161 00:09:09,049 --> 00:09:13,251 Were nine miles to the east of the volcano. 162 00:09:13,253 --> 00:09:18,588 Resident harry truman was at his home on spirit lake. 163 00:09:18,590 --> 00:09:20,922 David johnston monitored the bulge 164 00:09:20,924 --> 00:09:24,359 From south coldwater ridge. 165 00:09:24,361 --> 00:09:25,830 David and catherine were 166 00:09:25,832 --> 00:09:29,767 Outside the restriction zone. 167 00:09:29,769 --> 00:09:32,367 Harry was inside it. 168 00:09:38,477 --> 00:09:42,713 The u.S. Geological survey in washington state. 169 00:09:42,715 --> 00:09:48,017 Swanson: Suddenly the seismographs went bonkers. 170 00:09:48,019 --> 00:09:52,121 The needles just started jumping all over the place. 171 00:09:52,123 --> 00:09:56,092 Narrator: An earthquake hitting 5.1 on the richter scale 172 00:09:56,094 --> 00:09:59,096 Ripped through the volcano's core. 173 00:09:59,098 --> 00:10:03,133 Swanson: I'm not sure I've ever been so excited before. 174 00:10:03,135 --> 00:10:07,237 Narrator: The quake set off a chain of life-changing events, 175 00:10:07,239 --> 00:10:11,342 All of them unstoppable. 176 00:10:11,344 --> 00:10:14,579 The volcanic monster had woken. 177 00:10:16,448 --> 00:10:20,250 Making one last pass in her plane, 178 00:10:20,252 --> 00:10:24,521 Dorothy photographed the first moments of disaster. 179 00:10:24,523 --> 00:10:28,758 ♪ ♪ 180 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,995 Stoffel: Nothing is happening, and then all of a sudden, 181 00:10:31,997 --> 00:10:35,266 The ice began to fall into the summit. 182 00:10:43,076 --> 00:10:46,141 And I got so excited. 183 00:10:46,143 --> 00:10:49,312 Narrator: But dorothy was right above a volcano 184 00:10:49,314 --> 00:10:53,049 About to unleash its first cataclysm. 185 00:11:03,393 --> 00:11:06,628 Stoffel: The instant that I took that second picture, 186 00:11:06,630 --> 00:11:08,999 The most bizarre thing happened. 187 00:11:09,001 --> 00:11:12,170 We could see this fracture opening up. 188 00:11:12,172 --> 00:11:15,503 Narrator: She photographed the moment of collapse. 189 00:11:18,142 --> 00:11:21,611 Meltwater had penetrated the north face, 190 00:11:21,613 --> 00:11:25,282 Helping to destabilize the bulge. 191 00:11:25,284 --> 00:11:27,782 Stoffel: The whole north side of the mountain, 192 00:11:27,784 --> 00:11:29,886 It became almost fluid, 193 00:11:29,888 --> 00:11:33,923 Like someone was slicing the mountain in half. 194 00:11:33,925 --> 00:11:38,294 Narrator: Catherine hickson's husband also took pictures. 195 00:11:38,296 --> 00:11:43,098 They reveal the start of the largest recorded landslide 196 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:44,769 On earth. 197 00:11:44,771 --> 00:11:49,006 Hickson: The landslide was an amazing event. 198 00:11:49,008 --> 00:11:54,344 The mountain is disintegrating and is moving. 199 00:11:54,346 --> 00:11:59,015 It was like watching, on a grand scale, 200 00:11:59,017 --> 00:12:01,352 This giant wave. 201 00:12:04,854 --> 00:12:09,760 Essentially the mountain falling apart before our eyes. 202 00:12:09,762 --> 00:12:14,964 Narrator: 3.3 billion cubic yards of rock and ice 203 00:12:14,966 --> 00:12:17,902 Hurtled down the volcano. 204 00:12:17,904 --> 00:12:20,202 Stoffel: You expect mountains to erupt. 205 00:12:20,204 --> 00:12:25,477 You don't expect mountains to fall apart. 206 00:12:25,479 --> 00:12:26,977 Narrator: The landslide triggered 207 00:12:26,979 --> 00:12:29,781 Something far more powerful. 208 00:12:29,783 --> 00:12:31,214 Stoffel: I thought we were dead. 209 00:12:37,456 --> 00:12:40,491 ♪ ♪ 210 00:12:40,493 --> 00:12:46,695 ♪ ♪ 211 00:12:46,697 --> 00:12:49,866 Narrator: An explosion burst out of the north face. 212 00:12:49,868 --> 00:12:55,704 ♪ ♪ 213 00:12:55,706 --> 00:13:01,312 Stoffel: I was looking directly down on the blast coming up. 214 00:13:01,314 --> 00:13:06,383 I really thought we were going to be blown apart. 215 00:13:06,385 --> 00:13:08,749 Narrator: Photographers captured the instantaneous 216 00:13:08,751 --> 00:13:11,853 Pressure release of the magma. 217 00:13:11,855 --> 00:13:15,424 Water inside the volcano flashed to steam. 218 00:13:15,426 --> 00:13:18,695 More than a thousandfold increase in volume, 219 00:13:18,697 --> 00:13:23,599 Catapulting the eruption into a massive explosion. 220 00:13:23,601 --> 00:13:28,870 Hickson: We just saw this writhing, boiling cloud, 221 00:13:28,872 --> 00:13:32,640 Blacks and grays just shooting out to the north. 222 00:13:35,180 --> 00:13:39,415 Narrator: Scientists call it a pyroclastic surge-- 223 00:13:39,417 --> 00:13:43,019 A blast of rock, ice, and gas 224 00:13:43,021 --> 00:13:48,490 Superheated up to 660 degrees fahrenheit, 225 00:13:48,492 --> 00:13:52,394 Accelerating to speeds over 600 miles per hour. 226 00:13:54,967 --> 00:13:56,565 Hickson: This eruption was getting 227 00:13:56,567 --> 00:13:58,502 Bigger and bigger and bigger, 228 00:13:58,504 --> 00:14:03,706 Faster and faster than anything that I could have anticipated. 229 00:14:08,413 --> 00:14:13,148 Narrator: The blast threatened to engulf dorothy's plane. 230 00:14:13,150 --> 00:14:17,152 Stoffel: The pilot put our airplane into a nosedive 231 00:14:17,154 --> 00:14:19,356 To try to outrun the blast. 232 00:14:24,362 --> 00:14:29,864 I can't emphasize enough how quickly the blast developed 233 00:14:29,866 --> 00:14:34,035 Into enormous proportions. 234 00:14:34,037 --> 00:14:37,339 I thought, "we're going to disappear from this earth, 235 00:14:37,341 --> 00:14:40,610 And my mother's never gonna know what happened to me." 236 00:14:42,879 --> 00:14:45,281 Narrator: The blast was visible to climbers 237 00:14:45,283 --> 00:14:49,851 On peaks over 30 miles away, 238 00:14:49,853 --> 00:14:55,460 An explosion equivalent to 500 hiroshima bombs. 239 00:14:59,295 --> 00:15:02,697 The pilot's maneuver saved their lives. 240 00:15:05,637 --> 00:15:11,172 Stoffel: The whole experience was very eerie and strange. 241 00:15:11,174 --> 00:15:16,413 It was a sense of awe, wonderment. 242 00:15:16,415 --> 00:15:21,851 It was amazing that so much earth could be destroyed 243 00:15:21,853 --> 00:15:24,288 In such a brief instant. 244 00:15:31,161 --> 00:15:35,196 Narrator: Two catastrophic events were in motion. 245 00:15:35,198 --> 00:15:37,401 One, the massive landslide 246 00:15:37,403 --> 00:15:40,234 Traveled over 100 miles an hour, 247 00:15:40,236 --> 00:15:45,775 Eventually spilling 14 miles down the toutle valley. 248 00:15:45,777 --> 00:15:49,480 And two, the pyroclastic surge. 249 00:15:49,482 --> 00:15:53,284 In two minutes, it covered almost seven miles, 250 00:15:53,286 --> 00:15:55,650 Destroying spirit lake 251 00:15:55,652 --> 00:16:00,721 And engulfing south coldwater ridge. 252 00:16:00,723 --> 00:16:04,058 Harry truman was killed, 253 00:16:04,060 --> 00:16:07,863 Buried beneath 150 feet of debris. 254 00:16:12,002 --> 00:16:14,771 A similar fate for david johnston 255 00:16:14,773 --> 00:16:19,508 At his monitoring post. 256 00:16:19,510 --> 00:16:22,146 Swanson: It really hit home hard 257 00:16:22,148 --> 00:16:27,083 That we'd lost a colleague and a friend, 258 00:16:27,085 --> 00:16:31,687 And, and that's when, that's when the tears began. 259 00:16:31,689 --> 00:16:32,720 ♪ ♪ 260 00:16:32,722 --> 00:16:35,991 ♪ ♪ 261 00:16:38,931 --> 00:16:41,529 Narrator: The size and direction of the eruption 262 00:16:41,531 --> 00:16:44,699 Made it much more destructive than predicted. 263 00:16:48,772 --> 00:16:52,341 Mount st. Helens had exploded sideways, 264 00:16:52,343 --> 00:16:57,745 The first lateral blast ever recorded in real time. 265 00:17:02,689 --> 00:17:06,187 In their car, catherine, her husband, and their dogs 266 00:17:06,189 --> 00:17:09,924 Were trying to outrun the growing blast. 267 00:17:09,926 --> 00:17:11,728 Hickson: I was looking backwards, 268 00:17:11,730 --> 00:17:14,965 Basically seeing this incredible cloud 269 00:17:14,967 --> 00:17:21,770 Just moving much faster than we were, in fact, moving. 270 00:17:21,772 --> 00:17:28,044 It was the most terrifying moments of the entire eruption. 271 00:17:28,046 --> 00:17:30,244 I knew it would be hot, 272 00:17:30,246 --> 00:17:32,882 It would potentially suffocate us, 273 00:17:32,884 --> 00:17:34,648 And that would be the end. 274 00:17:36,921 --> 00:17:39,690 Narrator: And for some, it was. 275 00:17:48,468 --> 00:17:50,366 Narrator: Catherine and her husband 276 00:17:50,368 --> 00:17:52,336 Were far enough east of the volcano 277 00:17:52,338 --> 00:17:54,603 To escape with their lives. 278 00:17:56,909 --> 00:17:59,974 Hickson: It was a feeling of incredible relief, 279 00:17:59,976 --> 00:18:02,645 But also incredible wonder. 280 00:18:02,647 --> 00:18:08,953 Like, what we had witnessed was truly phenomenal. 281 00:18:08,955 --> 00:18:12,053 Narrator: The pyroclastic surge was spreading north, 282 00:18:12,055 --> 00:18:15,023 Far beyond the restriction zone. 283 00:18:19,630 --> 00:18:25,902 ♪ ♪ 284 00:18:25,904 --> 00:18:27,702 Minutes before the eruption, 285 00:18:27,704 --> 00:18:32,873 Logger jim scymanky felled trees with two co-workers, 286 00:18:32,875 --> 00:18:35,644 While another logger, jose dias, 287 00:18:35,646 --> 00:18:38,681 Rested in a nearby truck. 288 00:18:38,683 --> 00:18:42,152 Jim scymanky: A beautiful morning, gorgeous. 289 00:18:42,154 --> 00:18:45,956 We didn't hear too much wildlife, though. 290 00:18:45,958 --> 00:18:49,760 Narrator: Jim was over 12 miles from the volcano, 291 00:18:49,762 --> 00:18:54,498 Outside the restriction zone. 292 00:18:54,500 --> 00:18:57,935 He had no idea that he was about to get caught 293 00:18:57,937 --> 00:19:01,235 In a blast hurtling towards him. 294 00:19:01,237 --> 00:19:04,439 (boom) 295 00:19:04,441 --> 00:19:06,310 (beeping) 296 00:19:06,312 --> 00:19:08,910 (boom) 297 00:19:13,449 --> 00:19:14,851 Scymanky: As we were working, 298 00:19:14,853 --> 00:19:19,256 We heard somebody screaming and yelling. 299 00:19:19,258 --> 00:19:23,926 The next thing we saw was jose dias 300 00:19:23,928 --> 00:19:27,997 Come running down through the woods, screaming, 301 00:19:27,999 --> 00:19:30,064 "the volcano's exploding!" 302 00:19:30,066 --> 00:19:31,935 (screaming) 303 00:19:31,937 --> 00:19:34,401 We couldn't believe it. We didn't hear anything. 304 00:19:34,403 --> 00:19:36,805 And then I turned back around, 305 00:19:36,807 --> 00:19:40,476 And that's when I heard this huge roaring sound 306 00:19:40,478 --> 00:19:42,309 Coming through the woods. 307 00:19:42,311 --> 00:19:47,118 Narrator: Approaching them, the superheated pyroclastic surge. 308 00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:48,818 Scymanky: It sounded like freight trains coming through. 309 00:19:48,820 --> 00:19:50,118 It was just a huge roar. 310 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:53,155 You couldn't hear anything. Deafening. 311 00:19:53,157 --> 00:19:55,892 Unbelievable. 312 00:19:55,894 --> 00:20:00,130 And this thing was so fast, it just overtook you in seconds. 313 00:20:00,132 --> 00:20:03,501 Narrator: The blast hit the four loggers. 314 00:20:03,503 --> 00:20:08,171 Scymanky: It just turned pitch-black. 315 00:20:08,173 --> 00:20:13,975 Narrator: They were smothered by superheated gases and ash. 316 00:20:13,977 --> 00:20:17,213 Scymanky: We were being pummeled with god knows what. 317 00:20:17,215 --> 00:20:20,817 It was like you were being cremated alive. 318 00:20:20,819 --> 00:20:24,588 You know, the pain was just unreal. 319 00:20:24,590 --> 00:20:27,454 Narrator: Deadly quantities of pulverized rock 320 00:20:27,456 --> 00:20:29,525 Clogged his airways. 321 00:20:29,527 --> 00:20:30,658 Scymanky: You couldn't breathe. 322 00:20:30,660 --> 00:20:32,229 Trying to take a breath (inhales) 323 00:20:32,231 --> 00:20:34,329 Nothing, zero oxygen. 324 00:20:36,435 --> 00:20:38,933 I knew I was gonna die right there. 325 00:20:43,973 --> 00:20:48,379 Narrator: The blast fanned north, east, and west 326 00:20:48,381 --> 00:20:51,346 For up to 19 miles, 327 00:20:51,348 --> 00:20:55,750 Scorching and flattening everything it touched. 328 00:20:55,752 --> 00:20:59,220 Barely four minutes into the eruption, 329 00:20:59,222 --> 00:21:04,291 It's estimated the volcano had taken more than 40 lives, 330 00:21:04,293 --> 00:21:07,895 Some of the first recorded fatalities from a volcano 331 00:21:07,897 --> 00:21:09,866 In the continental u.S. 332 00:21:17,143 --> 00:21:21,312 At the same time, a young news cameraman, david crockett, 333 00:21:21,314 --> 00:21:25,012 Was making his getaway by car 334 00:21:25,014 --> 00:21:28,049 Five miles west of the mountain. 335 00:21:28,051 --> 00:21:29,820 He was about to get trapped 336 00:21:29,822 --> 00:21:32,720 By the volcano's third catastrophe-- 337 00:21:32,722 --> 00:21:36,191 Deadly mudflows known as lahars. 338 00:21:38,963 --> 00:21:43,765 (rumbling) 339 00:21:51,142 --> 00:21:52,340 David crockett: I thought, oh, here we go, 340 00:21:52,342 --> 00:21:55,144 It's just a normal eruption again, 341 00:21:55,146 --> 00:21:58,182 And I'll have my footage in 15 minutes 342 00:21:58,184 --> 00:22:00,015 And be back home by lunch. 343 00:22:00,017 --> 00:22:03,919 I was not expecting what happened, absolutely not. 344 00:22:06,259 --> 00:22:09,157 Right in front of me, there was just this explosion 345 00:22:09,159 --> 00:22:11,961 Of mud and trees and rocks. 346 00:22:11,963 --> 00:22:14,998 I had no place to drive. 347 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,998 Narrator: He started filming. 348 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:19,402 Heat from the eruption 349 00:22:19,404 --> 00:22:22,169 Had melted mount st. Helens' ice cap, 350 00:22:22,171 --> 00:22:26,844 Unleashing billions of gallons of water from the summit, 351 00:22:26,846 --> 00:22:29,377 Creating lethal lahars, 352 00:22:29,379 --> 00:22:33,481 Thick with volcanic debris and ash. 353 00:22:33,483 --> 00:22:37,185 David needed to escape to higher ground. 354 00:22:37,187 --> 00:22:39,389 Crockett: I knew I had to try to wade 355 00:22:39,391 --> 00:22:42,656 Across this flow in front of me. 356 00:22:42,658 --> 00:22:44,827 Grabbed my camera. I had no choice. 357 00:22:44,829 --> 00:22:47,631 I waded into it about thigh deep. 358 00:22:47,633 --> 00:22:50,264 Felt like warm concrete. 359 00:22:50,266 --> 00:22:57,106 I still have trouble believing I made it across that, but I did. 360 00:22:57,108 --> 00:23:01,343 Narrator: But above him, another danger loomed-- 361 00:23:01,345 --> 00:23:05,514 A plume of rock and ash. 362 00:23:05,516 --> 00:23:08,018 Crockett: It was just incredible. 363 00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:11,618 It was hard to make sense out of the scale of it. 364 00:23:11,620 --> 00:23:14,989 This enormous cloud just blocking out the sky, 365 00:23:14,991 --> 00:23:19,326 Just full of purples and blacks and greens 366 00:23:19,328 --> 00:23:22,097 And lightning everywhere. 367 00:23:22,099 --> 00:23:25,701 Narrator: Miles high and growing. 368 00:23:25,703 --> 00:23:29,005 Crockett: It was just hard to wrap my mind around. 369 00:23:29,007 --> 00:23:31,639 It was awesomely beautiful 370 00:23:31,641 --> 00:23:35,009 And awesomely scary at the same time. 371 00:23:35,011 --> 00:23:37,080 Narrator: But the ash was falling, 372 00:23:37,082 --> 00:23:39,547 Bringing a suffocating darkness. 373 00:23:39,549 --> 00:23:41,017 Crockett: The valley was literally 374 00:23:41,019 --> 00:23:42,784 Disappearing behind me. 375 00:23:42,786 --> 00:23:45,688 Narrator: The volcano's fourth cataclysm was coming. 376 00:23:54,597 --> 00:23:56,866 Narrator: Within half an hour of the blast, 377 00:23:56,868 --> 00:24:01,636 The fourth cataclysm-- a menacing cloud of ash. 378 00:24:04,909 --> 00:24:06,340 (phone rings) 379 00:24:06,342 --> 00:24:07,340 Crockett: This is dave from the comms center. 380 00:24:07,342 --> 00:24:08,978 Man: Hello, dave. 381 00:24:08,980 --> 00:24:10,311 Crockett: Have you had a chance to look out your windows yet? 382 00:24:10,313 --> 00:24:11,715 Man: No, not really. 383 00:24:11,717 --> 00:24:13,015 Crockett: We got about a 40,000-foot cloud 384 00:24:13,017 --> 00:24:14,349 Above the top of the mountain 385 00:24:14,351 --> 00:24:19,686 And filling the entire county and sky. 386 00:24:19,688 --> 00:24:24,028 Narrator: The column of destruction poured upwards, 387 00:24:24,030 --> 00:24:26,994 More than 12 miles high. 388 00:24:26,996 --> 00:24:29,898 Barker: This disaster got bigger and bigger and bigger. 389 00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:32,202 Officer: We had a major eruption occurring at 8:32 390 00:24:32,204 --> 00:24:34,602 Approximately this morning on mount st. Helens. 391 00:24:34,604 --> 00:24:37,473 Barker: It kept escalating as to how many 392 00:24:37,475 --> 00:24:40,944 Different agencies needed to respond. 393 00:24:40,946 --> 00:24:44,077 Narrator: Deputy george barker's task was to head out 394 00:24:44,079 --> 00:24:46,815 And warn of the approaching mudflows. 395 00:24:49,387 --> 00:24:51,152 Barker: A sergeant came on the air and said, 396 00:24:51,154 --> 00:24:52,623 "I'm gonna say it plainly, 397 00:24:52,625 --> 00:24:54,556 But there's gonna be a lot of deaths." 398 00:24:54,558 --> 00:24:58,627 I realized, it's pretty serious. 399 00:24:58,629 --> 00:25:00,194 Newscaster: The news this morning is of human beings 400 00:25:00,196 --> 00:25:02,231 Trying to comprehend what nature is doing to them. 401 00:25:02,233 --> 00:25:04,764 We're not used to volcanoes in this country. 402 00:25:04,766 --> 00:25:07,435 Reporter: It's a frightening tale of survival in a nightmare. 403 00:25:07,437 --> 00:25:11,739 ♪ ♪ 404 00:25:11,741 --> 00:25:14,877 Crockett: Dear god, this is hell on earth I'm walking through. 405 00:25:14,879 --> 00:25:16,543 Aw, god! 406 00:25:16,545 --> 00:25:18,514 Narrator: News cameraman david crockett 407 00:25:18,516 --> 00:25:21,218 Filmed his terrifying experience 408 00:25:21,220 --> 00:25:24,252 From deep within the ash cloud. 409 00:25:24,254 --> 00:25:27,456 Crockett: I can hear the mountain behind me rumbling. 410 00:25:27,458 --> 00:25:29,356 I feel the ash now in my eyes. 411 00:25:29,358 --> 00:25:31,926 It's getting very hard to breathe. 412 00:25:31,928 --> 00:25:33,664 It's the strangest feeling. 413 00:25:33,666 --> 00:25:39,535 I really believed I had no chance of living through this. 414 00:25:39,537 --> 00:25:44,272 Narrator: Fine ash particles were slowly asphyxiating him. 415 00:25:44,274 --> 00:25:45,672 Crockett: Oh, dear god! 416 00:25:45,674 --> 00:25:48,476 It was in my nose. It was in my mouth. 417 00:25:48,478 --> 00:25:52,780 Oh, god, if I can just keep walking. 418 00:25:52,782 --> 00:25:55,718 If there's more air to breathe. 419 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:57,651 There were constant earthquakes. 420 00:25:57,653 --> 00:26:00,322 The ground was moving the whole time. 421 00:26:00,324 --> 00:26:04,259 Just about every sensory experience you could, 422 00:26:04,261 --> 00:26:06,430 You could feel was going on. 423 00:26:06,432 --> 00:26:08,430 (coughing) 424 00:26:08,432 --> 00:26:10,567 I didn't realize how badly I wanted to live. 425 00:26:14,369 --> 00:26:16,905 Narrator: The forestry service sent in a plane 426 00:26:16,907 --> 00:26:19,509 To assess the destruction. 427 00:26:19,511 --> 00:26:22,609 Volcanologist don swanson seized the chance 428 00:26:22,611 --> 00:26:27,717 To film the eruption from the air. 429 00:26:27,719 --> 00:26:30,854 Swanson: Being able to see it up close 430 00:26:30,856 --> 00:26:33,954 Was really quite an emotional experience for me 431 00:26:33,956 --> 00:26:39,696 Because here it was happening right in, right in front of me. 432 00:26:39,698 --> 00:26:42,863 Narrator: His footage reveals the twisting helix 433 00:26:42,865 --> 00:26:46,733 Of gas, rock, and ash. 434 00:26:46,735 --> 00:26:48,671 Swanson: It looked like the head of a cauliflower, 435 00:26:48,673 --> 00:26:52,842 But much more ominous and much dirtier. 436 00:26:52,844 --> 00:26:57,146 It was just frustrating that we couldn't get closer. 437 00:26:57,148 --> 00:26:58,779 Narrator: Through the ash, 438 00:26:58,781 --> 00:27:02,850 He glimpsed what was left of mount st. Helens. 439 00:27:02,852 --> 00:27:04,187 Swanson: I said to myself, 440 00:27:04,189 --> 00:27:07,521 "oh, no, this can't have happened." 441 00:27:07,523 --> 00:27:12,462 The top of the mountain was gone. 442 00:27:12,464 --> 00:27:16,399 Narrator: The blast had obliterated 1,300 feet 443 00:27:16,401 --> 00:27:21,437 Of rock and ice from the summit. 444 00:27:21,439 --> 00:27:26,508 The column of ash rose out of a crater over a mile wide. 445 00:27:28,947 --> 00:27:32,449 Swanson: That destruction amazed and shocked me. 446 00:27:32,451 --> 00:27:35,449 ♪ ♪ 447 00:27:35,451 --> 00:27:40,491 ♪ ♪ 448 00:27:46,063 --> 00:27:49,099 Narrator: The ash spread. 449 00:27:49,101 --> 00:27:51,466 Day became night. 450 00:27:51,468 --> 00:27:53,270 Reporter: In yakima, washington, this morning, 451 00:27:53,272 --> 00:27:55,303 85 miles north of mount st. Helens, 452 00:27:55,305 --> 00:27:56,703 It was like midnight. 453 00:27:56,705 --> 00:27:58,474 Streetlights came on automatically, 454 00:27:58,476 --> 00:28:02,278 And many cars stalled when the ash clogged carburetors. 455 00:28:04,746 --> 00:28:06,615 Narrator: Downwind of the volcano, 456 00:28:06,617 --> 00:28:11,586 In the town of ephrata, townsfolk stopped and stared. 457 00:28:11,588 --> 00:28:14,290 What appeared to be an approaching storm 458 00:28:14,292 --> 00:28:16,957 Was the expanding ash cloud, 459 00:28:16,959 --> 00:28:20,928 Already 140 miles from the volcano. 460 00:28:27,471 --> 00:28:31,140 Somehow, logger jim scymanky and his co-workers 461 00:28:31,142 --> 00:28:33,573 Had survived. 462 00:28:33,575 --> 00:28:36,311 Scymanky: I looked at them, and I thought, "oh, my god. 463 00:28:36,313 --> 00:28:37,948 They look horrible." 464 00:28:39,550 --> 00:28:43,152 My clothes were welded to me basically. 465 00:28:43,154 --> 00:28:46,089 My gloves were welded to my hands, 466 00:28:46,091 --> 00:28:48,956 And we were in so much pain. 467 00:28:48,958 --> 00:28:51,927 I was wondering, "god, I wonder how long it takes to die." 468 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:58,468 Narrator: They walked for miles in search of help. 469 00:28:58,470 --> 00:29:00,568 Scymanky: The landscape was gone. 470 00:29:00,570 --> 00:29:02,806 You had no bearing. 471 00:29:02,808 --> 00:29:05,606 Narrator: This is all that remained of the forest 472 00:29:05,608 --> 00:29:10,177 Where jim had worked, just 90 minutes earlier. 473 00:29:10,179 --> 00:29:13,581 Scymanky: Everything was just smoldering and down. 474 00:29:13,583 --> 00:29:17,718 Just us and the devastation. 475 00:29:19,824 --> 00:29:23,193 Narrator: A few miles away, the ash had cleared 476 00:29:23,195 --> 00:29:26,693 And david crockett could breathe once again. 477 00:29:26,695 --> 00:29:31,030 Crockett: I had my still camera, and I just, click, I made it! 478 00:29:34,170 --> 00:29:38,739 I think you can see a pretty big smile on my face. 479 00:29:38,741 --> 00:29:41,276 That's the first moment I thought, 480 00:29:41,278 --> 00:29:43,647 "hey, I might make it out of here alive. 481 00:29:43,649 --> 00:29:46,147 This is amazing!" 482 00:29:46,149 --> 00:29:50,084 Narrator: But the eruption was reaching a new violent phase, 483 00:29:50,086 --> 00:29:52,755 And the muddy lahars were wreaking havoc 484 00:29:52,757 --> 00:29:54,388 In the valleys below. 485 00:30:13,676 --> 00:30:16,344 Narrator: Nearly four hours after the blast, 486 00:30:16,346 --> 00:30:19,782 The eruption was in full flow. 487 00:30:19,784 --> 00:30:25,153 Lava blocks and pumice spewed out from the crater, 488 00:30:25,155 --> 00:30:27,157 Heaping yet more devastation 489 00:30:27,159 --> 00:30:30,090 Onto the north side of the volcano. 490 00:30:32,696 --> 00:30:35,098 The lahars roared down the mountain, 491 00:30:35,100 --> 00:30:37,265 Gathering pace and power. 492 00:30:37,267 --> 00:30:38,902 Man on radio: All units, toutle area, 493 00:30:38,904 --> 00:30:42,136 Have report of a mudflow three-quarters of a mile 494 00:30:42,138 --> 00:30:46,706 To one mile wide coming down the toutle. 495 00:30:46,708 --> 00:30:50,110 Narrator: A 20-foot-high wall of water 496 00:30:50,112 --> 00:30:54,881 Carried a lethal load of sediment and logs. 497 00:30:58,121 --> 00:31:01,889 Jim scymanky witnessed this rare force of nature 498 00:31:01,891 --> 00:31:05,593 In the valley below him. 499 00:31:05,595 --> 00:31:08,231 Scymanky: Just unbelievable! 500 00:31:08,233 --> 00:31:09,664 It had trailers in it. 501 00:31:09,666 --> 00:31:14,035 It had heavy equipment like bulldozers. 502 00:31:14,037 --> 00:31:19,106 It had parts of houses, trees, huge trees, 503 00:31:19,108 --> 00:31:22,010 And just rolling, slow roll. 504 00:31:22,012 --> 00:31:26,147 It was just engulfing everything. 505 00:31:26,149 --> 00:31:27,614 Narrator: Downstream, 506 00:31:27,616 --> 00:31:30,585 It threatened bridges and highways, 507 00:31:30,587 --> 00:31:35,389 Vital escape routes away from the volcano. 508 00:31:35,391 --> 00:31:37,460 (crash) 509 00:31:37,462 --> 00:31:40,126 Man: Woo! 510 00:31:40,128 --> 00:31:42,597 Sheriff: Get off the bridge! (whistles) 511 00:31:42,599 --> 00:31:46,034 Come on! Get over here! 512 00:31:46,036 --> 00:31:49,205 Narrator: Deputy george barker saw the lahars 513 00:31:49,207 --> 00:31:53,376 Approach the toutle bridge. 514 00:31:53,378 --> 00:31:56,643 Barker: Bob is screaming on the radio, 515 00:31:56,645 --> 00:31:58,747 "clear the bridges! 516 00:31:58,749 --> 00:32:01,484 Clear the bridges!" 517 00:32:01,486 --> 00:32:04,784 I saw that bridge go out. 518 00:32:04,786 --> 00:32:10,592 It was a big span, and it went down pretty relatively quick. 519 00:32:10,594 --> 00:32:14,430 Truthfully, I was very afraid of what was happening, 520 00:32:14,432 --> 00:32:16,396 For my own sake. 521 00:32:18,669 --> 00:32:21,571 Narrator: For hours, the lahars funneled down 522 00:32:21,573 --> 00:32:24,438 Both forks of the toutle river, 523 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:28,075 Putting a dozen bridges out of action. 524 00:32:28,077 --> 00:32:29,512 ♪ ♪ 525 00:32:29,514 --> 00:32:36,350 ♪ ♪ 526 00:32:36,352 --> 00:32:39,054 The scale of destruction was beyond the scope 527 00:32:39,056 --> 00:32:41,254 Of the local counties. 528 00:32:41,256 --> 00:32:43,158 Man on radio: We're gonna have a real problem down below, 529 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:45,125 That's all I can say right now. 530 00:32:47,831 --> 00:32:50,400 Narrator: The national guard was called up... 531 00:32:54,739 --> 00:32:58,004 Including pilot jess hagerman... 532 00:33:00,110 --> 00:33:04,012 And darald stebner, a vietnam veteran. 533 00:33:07,185 --> 00:33:09,583 Stebner and hagerman's task 534 00:33:09,585 --> 00:33:11,954 Was to fly into the blast zone... 535 00:33:11,956 --> 00:33:15,924 Pilot: Oh, that's some hot ground, boy, and on. Gee! 536 00:33:15,926 --> 00:33:19,128 Narrator: ...And search for survivors. 537 00:33:19,130 --> 00:33:20,528 Jess hagerman: We didn't know in those days 538 00:33:20,530 --> 00:33:22,528 What this thing was all about, 539 00:33:22,530 --> 00:33:25,866 And we didn't have a clue of where we were going 540 00:33:25,868 --> 00:33:29,870 Or what we were gonna find. 541 00:33:29,872 --> 00:33:34,207 Narrator: They had to fly toward the erupting volcano. 542 00:33:34,209 --> 00:33:37,012 Darald stebner: "this is scarier than vietnam," I said, 543 00:33:37,014 --> 00:33:41,016 "because there's no place we can go with this thing." 544 00:33:41,018 --> 00:33:45,353 You don't know if that thing's gonna erupt again. 545 00:33:45,355 --> 00:33:49,024 And the eruption has a much more severe consequence 546 00:33:49,026 --> 00:33:52,261 Than an ak-47 round. 547 00:33:52,263 --> 00:33:57,365 Hagerman: It was unbelievable, the power of this cloud. 548 00:33:57,367 --> 00:34:00,203 And you're flying around in this little bitty helicopter, 549 00:34:00,205 --> 00:34:05,207 And you think, like, it's like a gnat in the universe. 550 00:34:07,813 --> 00:34:09,178 Narrator: Beneath them, 551 00:34:09,180 --> 00:34:12,548 A colorless, lifeless landscape. 552 00:34:12,550 --> 00:34:16,786 Hagerman: The sky, the ground, everything was the same color. 553 00:34:16,788 --> 00:34:19,286 It was all covered with ash. 554 00:34:21,592 --> 00:34:24,861 Stebner: I'm stumbling for words now. I was then, too. 555 00:34:24,863 --> 00:34:26,527 It was just that it was so overwhelming, 556 00:34:26,529 --> 00:34:29,031 Where does one start? 557 00:34:31,300 --> 00:34:36,740 Narrator: No trees were left standing. 558 00:34:36,742 --> 00:34:38,373 Hagerman: It just looked like somebody had taken 559 00:34:38,375 --> 00:34:43,077 A great big giant comb and just combed 'em down. 560 00:34:43,079 --> 00:34:46,014 All the trees were laying in the same direction. 561 00:34:48,416 --> 00:34:50,952 Stebner: You just can't believe what you're looking at. 562 00:34:50,954 --> 00:34:53,189 Pilot: Nothing matches the map. 563 00:34:53,191 --> 00:34:55,856 Narrator: Landmarks had been obliterated. 564 00:34:55,858 --> 00:34:59,193 Pilot: Where's spirit lake? Is that it over there? 565 00:34:59,195 --> 00:35:02,697 Doesn't look like any place I've ever been before. 566 00:35:02,699 --> 00:35:05,168 Narrator: Lost within the devastation, 567 00:35:05,170 --> 00:35:07,602 The volcano's victims. 568 00:35:11,808 --> 00:35:15,243 Stebner: How could anybody survive the initial blast 569 00:35:15,245 --> 00:35:17,947 With what it did to those trees? 570 00:35:24,987 --> 00:35:28,989 Narrator: About eight hours in, a lahar was reaching its peak 571 00:35:28,991 --> 00:35:32,693 20 miles down the toutle valley, 572 00:35:32,695 --> 00:35:39,234 Where photographers captured an astonishing act of bravery. 573 00:35:39,236 --> 00:35:42,238 Two brothers, robert and john brown, 574 00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:45,238 Attempted to free some horses. 575 00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:48,776 Robert brown: They had just as much a right to live as we did. 576 00:35:48,778 --> 00:35:50,580 We gave it a shot. 577 00:35:50,582 --> 00:35:52,813 Narrator: For half an hour, they fought to drive them 578 00:35:52,815 --> 00:35:56,817 Over a railroad track to dry land, 579 00:35:56,819 --> 00:36:00,155 But nature proved too powerful. 580 00:36:00,157 --> 00:36:04,092 Brown: I looked up, and I saw a wave of mud coming at us. 581 00:36:04,094 --> 00:36:07,863 Narrator: Another surge approached. 582 00:36:07,865 --> 00:36:10,463 Brown: We were between a rock and a hard spot. 583 00:36:10,465 --> 00:36:13,700 John, he just passed out right there on the spot, 584 00:36:13,702 --> 00:36:16,071 From just exhaustion. 585 00:36:16,073 --> 00:36:19,109 We had to give up on the horses. 586 00:36:19,111 --> 00:36:25,113 Narrator: On the mountain, a glimmer of hope--footprints. 587 00:36:25,115 --> 00:36:26,613 Hagerman: Naturally, you're excited 588 00:36:26,615 --> 00:36:30,217 Because somebody's alive out here, 589 00:36:30,219 --> 00:36:32,587 And we're gonna find somebody. 590 00:36:38,295 --> 00:36:43,998 ♪ ♪ 591 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:48,868 Hagerman: All of a sudden, we see two guys laying on the road. 592 00:36:48,870 --> 00:36:51,372 Scymanky: They came out of nowhere, 593 00:36:51,374 --> 00:36:55,243 And they were hovering right above us. 594 00:36:55,245 --> 00:36:58,481 Narrator: Jim scymanky and one other logger 595 00:36:58,483 --> 00:37:02,751 Collapsed in the ashy wasteland. 596 00:37:02,753 --> 00:37:04,985 Scymanky: I think I waved my arm up or something, you know, 597 00:37:04,987 --> 00:37:07,122 I had some strength left. 598 00:37:07,124 --> 00:37:12,593 Narrator: But landing a chopper in deep ash risked a collision. 599 00:37:12,595 --> 00:37:13,826 Scymanky: The ash was so deep, 600 00:37:13,828 --> 00:37:15,964 It would just blow it everywhere, 601 00:37:15,966 --> 00:37:17,097 And you couldn't even see the helicopter. 602 00:37:17,099 --> 00:37:19,801 You couldn't see anything. 603 00:37:19,803 --> 00:37:21,901 Hagerman: It just completely engulfed you. 604 00:37:21,903 --> 00:37:23,372 Just before you land, 605 00:37:23,374 --> 00:37:25,572 Three or four feet before you hit the ground, 606 00:37:25,574 --> 00:37:28,209 You can see the ground. 607 00:37:28,211 --> 00:37:30,143 Narrator: At the fringe of the blast zone, 608 00:37:30,145 --> 00:37:35,451 Logger jim had barely survived. 609 00:37:35,453 --> 00:37:37,384 Reporter: The men caught on mount st. Helens this morning 610 00:37:37,386 --> 00:37:38,788 Are now at emanuel hospital, 611 00:37:38,790 --> 00:37:42,892 Severely burned by hot gases and ash. 612 00:37:42,894 --> 00:37:44,992 Scymanky: But we'd been out there for seven hours. 613 00:37:44,994 --> 00:37:46,559 That's a long, long time. 614 00:37:46,561 --> 00:37:50,463 Oh, the doctor said it was a miracle. 615 00:37:50,465 --> 00:37:52,500 Narrator: Inside the blast zone, 616 00:37:52,502 --> 00:37:56,038 Darald stebner was still searching. 617 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:59,175 Stebner: We saw this large log up ahead of us there, 618 00:37:59,177 --> 00:38:03,075 And there was somebody moving on it. 619 00:38:03,077 --> 00:38:06,046 And my gosh, we got a closer look, 620 00:38:06,048 --> 00:38:11,387 And there was a gentleman sitting up on this felled tree. 621 00:38:11,389 --> 00:38:14,188 Narrator: Logger jose dias. 622 00:38:14,190 --> 00:38:19,458 Stebner: He was hunched down. He was hurting. 623 00:38:19,460 --> 00:38:22,529 I think he just felt totally exhausted. 624 00:38:25,202 --> 00:38:29,104 Narrator: Another rescue team noticed a distress signal. 625 00:38:29,106 --> 00:38:34,875 Three small fires led them to cameraman david crockett. 626 00:38:34,877 --> 00:38:36,945 Crockett: It is so arrogant, but I felt like, 627 00:38:36,947 --> 00:38:40,416 Oh, this is all part of a day's work. 628 00:38:40,418 --> 00:38:42,550 That's what it felt like at the time. 629 00:38:42,552 --> 00:38:44,254 Looking back now, 630 00:38:44,256 --> 00:38:50,691 At the people who risked their lives to save me, um... 631 00:38:53,564 --> 00:38:55,862 I, of course, feel a lot differently. 632 00:38:55,864 --> 00:38:56,899 ♪ ♪ 633 00:38:56,901 --> 00:39:03,637 ♪ ♪ 634 00:39:03,639 --> 00:39:07,907 Narrator: Mount st. Helens had done its worst. 635 00:39:07,909 --> 00:39:13,349 The volcano had ejected 540 million tons of ash. 636 00:39:14,951 --> 00:39:16,782 Reporter: In parts of washington and montana, 637 00:39:16,784 --> 00:39:20,153 It lies on the ground seven inches deep. 638 00:39:20,155 --> 00:39:23,357 Narrator: The after-effects would last for months. 639 00:39:26,030 --> 00:39:27,395 Reporter: Law enforcement agencies 640 00:39:27,397 --> 00:39:29,365 Have one word of advice-- 641 00:39:29,367 --> 00:39:32,765 Don't drive, don't leave home, don't leave animals outside, 642 00:39:32,767 --> 00:39:34,669 And above all, don't panic. 643 00:39:34,671 --> 00:39:35,669 (horn honks) 644 00:39:35,671 --> 00:39:36,769 (thud) 645 00:39:39,209 --> 00:39:44,244 Narrator: The ash spread across 12 states. 646 00:39:44,246 --> 00:39:46,682 Reporter: The plume of volcanic ash has now been reported 647 00:39:46,684 --> 00:39:48,748 As far east as north dakota, 648 00:39:48,750 --> 00:39:50,352 And fallout could reach new England 649 00:39:50,354 --> 00:39:53,519 In two or three days. 650 00:39:53,521 --> 00:39:58,327 Narrator: It circled the globe numerous times. 651 00:39:58,329 --> 00:40:04,398 Closer to home, the volcano had rearranged a whole landscape... 652 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:05,431 ♪ ♪ 653 00:40:05,433 --> 00:40:12,173 ♪ ♪ 654 00:40:12,175 --> 00:40:17,144 ...And transformed spirit lake into a steaming cauldron. 655 00:40:19,216 --> 00:40:22,552 Swanson: Even a relatively small volcano like mount st. Helens, 656 00:40:22,554 --> 00:40:24,219 Look what it did! 657 00:40:26,154 --> 00:40:29,923 Narrator: 200 homes gone, 658 00:40:29,925 --> 00:40:36,231 200 miles of highway and rail destroyed, 659 00:40:36,233 --> 00:40:39,468 Wildlife and livestock wiped out 660 00:40:39,470 --> 00:40:43,439 By the hundreds of thousands, 661 00:40:43,441 --> 00:40:48,210 And forests in a 230-square-mile area 662 00:40:48,212 --> 00:40:51,010 Snapped like twigs. 663 00:40:54,716 --> 00:41:00,489 The eruption killed 57 people, including logger jose dias, 664 00:41:00,491 --> 00:41:03,322 Who later died from his injuries. 665 00:41:07,028 --> 00:41:12,701 But out of this devastation, over 130 people were rescued. 666 00:41:13,770 --> 00:41:14,801 Hagerman: Hey! 667 00:41:14,803 --> 00:41:16,005 (laughs) 668 00:41:16,007 --> 00:41:18,205 Jim scymanky! 669 00:41:18,207 --> 00:41:19,472 How you doing? 670 00:41:19,474 --> 00:41:21,109 Scymanky: I'm doing fine, thank you. 671 00:41:21,111 --> 00:41:22,576 Hagerman: Hey, good to see ya. Scymanky: It's good to see you. 672 00:41:22,578 --> 00:41:24,780 Hagerman: It's always a wonderful feeling, 673 00:41:24,782 --> 00:41:26,847 Probably the greatest feeling you can have, 674 00:41:26,849 --> 00:41:31,217 To know that you probably helped somebody live. 675 00:41:31,219 --> 00:41:32,221 You're looking good! 676 00:41:32,223 --> 00:41:33,221 Scymanky: Still here. 677 00:41:33,223 --> 00:41:34,288 Hagerman: Still upright. 678 00:41:34,290 --> 00:41:35,455 Scymanky: I'm still upright, yeah. 679 00:41:35,457 --> 00:41:36,892 Hagerman: Me, too! 680 00:41:36,894 --> 00:41:38,592 Scymanky: I didn't know jess, but, you know, 681 00:41:38,594 --> 00:41:41,096 Great human being, I know that. 682 00:41:41,098 --> 00:41:44,400 Wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here today talking, so. 683 00:41:47,236 --> 00:41:48,838 Crockett: If I had it to do all over again, 684 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:51,504 I would definitely go back. 685 00:41:53,511 --> 00:41:56,275 It was just the most incredible experience 686 00:41:56,277 --> 00:41:58,046 I've ever lived through. 687 00:41:58,048 --> 00:41:59,679 Stoffel: We weren't sure that we were going to make it 688 00:41:59,681 --> 00:42:02,050 Out of that situation at all. 689 00:42:02,052 --> 00:42:04,821 For months, I really grappled with the issue 690 00:42:04,823 --> 00:42:06,754 That I was still alive, 691 00:42:06,756 --> 00:42:08,321 And I told myself 692 00:42:08,323 --> 00:42:12,792 That I wouldn't take life for granted again. 693 00:42:12,794 --> 00:42:14,662 Brown: You realize how small you are, 694 00:42:14,664 --> 00:42:17,166 In the universe, in the planet. 695 00:42:17,168 --> 00:42:21,271 I do my best just to enjoy life. 696 00:42:21,273 --> 00:42:24,937 Hickson: The effect was life-changing. 697 00:42:24,939 --> 00:42:29,175 I've chosen volcanology as a career path. 698 00:42:29,177 --> 00:42:33,212 Here was an event that had almost killed me 699 00:42:33,214 --> 00:42:36,883 And really, it inspired me to learn more 700 00:42:36,885 --> 00:42:41,724 About what had happened at mount st. Helens. 701 00:42:41,726 --> 00:42:44,124 I'm thankful to be alive. 702 00:42:44,126 --> 00:42:46,895 ♪ ♪ 703 00:42:46,897 --> 00:42:51,199 ♪ ♪ 704 00:42:51,201 --> 00:42:54,903 Narrator: The 1980 eruption of mount st. Helens 705 00:42:54,905 --> 00:42:58,207 Ushered in a new era of volcanology. 706 00:43:01,609 --> 00:43:04,945 For the first time, hundreds of images revealed 707 00:43:04,947 --> 00:43:07,516 The full force of the cataclysms 708 00:43:07,518 --> 00:43:12,786 That snow-capped volcanoes can unleash. 709 00:43:12,788 --> 00:43:14,457 Swanson: I don't think in any other eruption 710 00:43:14,459 --> 00:43:17,824 Has photography been so important, 711 00:43:17,826 --> 00:43:20,028 Because we didn't have to imagine. 712 00:43:20,030 --> 00:43:22,494 You can look at the photographs and see them. 713 00:43:25,767 --> 00:43:28,636 Narrator: Since 1980, mount st. Helens 714 00:43:28,638 --> 00:43:31,307 Has grown a new magma dome. 715 00:43:34,575 --> 00:43:38,777 And in the same mountain range in the pacific northwest, 716 00:43:38,779 --> 00:43:43,519 There are about a dozen more active snow-capped giants. 717 00:43:43,521 --> 00:43:47,052 The tallest is mount rainier. 718 00:43:47,054 --> 00:43:48,856 Hickson: Because it is very high, 719 00:43:48,858 --> 00:43:51,494 Has a lot of ice and snow on it, 720 00:43:51,496 --> 00:43:58,131 Mount rainier will be incredibly dangerous when it erupts. 721 00:43:58,133 --> 00:43:59,869 Narrator: There's no certainty 722 00:43:59,871 --> 00:44:04,773 About when any of these volcanoes will next stir. 723 00:44:04,775 --> 00:44:06,873 But for the tens of thousands of people 724 00:44:06,875 --> 00:44:09,077 Living in the valleys below, 725 00:44:09,079 --> 00:44:13,114 The effects will be catastrophic. 726 00:44:13,116 --> 00:44:16,518 Swanson: We volcanologists need to continually remind the public 727 00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:20,256 That these volcanoes will erupt again in the future. 728 00:44:20,258 --> 00:44:22,523 Captioned by side door media services