Mount St Helens Institute

09/04/2026

Wondering why there's still a burn ban? 👇

Why are Public Use Restrictions for fire still in place with all this rain?

This isn’t a “season-ending” rain event, but a “season slowing” one. The Pacific Northwest is expected to receive 0.25 to 1.25 inches of rain in the coming days, which is helpful but not enough to fully saturate soils and dry vegetation. Some parts of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest haven’t seen measurable rain in over 40 days. Several large fires remain active throughout Washington.

Please do your part to prevent any additional human-caused starts by continuing to follow public use restrictions, including a campfire ban. Note that local fire restrictions on non-federal land may vary by county, but these public use restrictions apply to all lands administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

For a list of full fire restrictions see: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/giffordpinchot/alerts/fire-restrictions

09/04/2026

Head downtown for Vancouver's First Friday Art Walk to explore a special display featuring artwork and project posters created by our 2026 GeoGirls.

While the participants won’t be there in person, their creativity, curiosity, and scientific discoveries will be front and center! Plus, learn about an upcoming Mount St. Helens project involving Susan Fronckowiak (2025 Artist-in-Residence and current volunteer) in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service.

When: Friday, September 4 | 5-8 p.m.
Where: AHall Artworks Studio & Gallery, 210 W Evergreen Blvd, Suite 300, Vancouver, WA (just two blocks north of Esther Short Park)

GeoGirls is a free, hands-on geology and technology camp at Mount St. Helens, hosted by the Mount St. Helens Institute and USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, and made possible by an incredible team of scientists, educators, mentors, artists, and volunteers.

Thank you Susan for supporting these young scientists (and creatives)!

09/03/2026

Even the Squatch is coming out of hiding for this one! 👣

You never know what (or who!) you'll run into at Mount St. Helens, but at Boots & Bow Ties you're guaranteed an audience with the hairy man himself. When Sasquatch heard MSHI's signature gala was around corner, he couldn't wait to step out of the meadow and into his formal wear!

Join us at The Heathman Lodge on Saturday, October 10 for Boots & Bow Ties 2026:

🍷 Gourmet dinner & wine
🔨 Live & silent auctions
🥾 Fun formal meets trail gear theme

If this legendary figure approves, you know it’s going to be a great night!

Lock in your tickets now: mshinstitute.org/events/boots-and-bow-ties-101026

09/02/2026

Ever wondered how Ape Canyon got its name? There's a long history of Sasquatch stunts at Mount St. Helens. Stay tuned for more on that later...

In 1924, gold miners appeared at the Cougar Ranger Station with an unbelievable tale. They’d been terrified by a band of 7-foot-tall hairy apes lobbing stones at their cabin. The alarmed men said the

09/02/2026

Join us September 11-13 for a special 21+ Base Camp packed with volcanic science, great community, and Oktoberfest fun! 🌋🍻

We're thrilled to feature Jess Ghent from the University of Washington. An avid traveler and Cascades Volcano Observatory volunteer, Jess has explored volcanoes across Central and South America, Europe, New Zealand, and (of course) Hawai'i and the Pacific Northwest! At Mount St. Helens, Jess is especially interested in what happens when people and volcanoes collide - and how communities around the world learn to live with similar risks.

Jess will be sharing her fascinating field experiences and research on improving volcanic hazard monitoring systems and understanding decision-making during volcanic evacuations.

Registration Deadline Extended: You now have until September 4 to sign up! Don't miss out on an unforgettable weekend on the mountain.

👉 mshinstitute.org/events/base-camp-091126

09/01/2026

Know before you go: the weather outlook for the next few days is stormy, with snow and ice expected on the climbing route along with strong winds.

Read more about the conditions and find links to the latest mountain weather forecasts on our webpage: mshinstitute.org/current-conditions.

09/01/2026

Think you know your chanterelles from your toxic lookalikes? Don't leave it to guesswork!

Join MSHI’s expert guides on a Mushroom Foraging trip to learn safe identification, sustainable harvesting, cooking tips, and more.

Tap the link to reserve your spot before they sell out: mshinstitute.org/mushroom-foraging

08/31/2026

They’re plump, they’re perfect, and they’re politely waiting for you to get your free use permit before you start snacking like a woodland champion...

If you're headed to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to harvest huckleberries, check out what you need to know before you go: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/giffordpinchot/forest-products/nonwood-products/special-forest-products-berries.

Please note that *commercial* harvesting is not permitted; this decision reflects the US Forest Service's commitment to tribal treaty rights and trust responsibility, forest health, and responsible stewardship - see the 2026 press release here: https://tinyurl.com/yd2pkze2.

Photo credit: MSHI Volunteer Alex Lennox

08/30/2026

Join us for the last Base Camp of 2026! Far from city lights, the night skies are incredible (when the PNW weather obliges!).

Whether you're coming for astrophotography, wildlife viewing, or simple R&R, our campground in the blast zone offers a front-row seat to Mount St. Helens by day AND by night.

Base Camp is whatever you want to make it: bring your SUP or kayak for a paddle, join a guided hike, hear from expert speakers, and share campfire community before turning your gaze to the stars.

No plans yet for September 11-13? Grab your spot now!

👉 mshinstitute.org/events/base-camp-091126

08/29/2026

More pics from our volunteer end-of-year social - in case you're wondering what's in the frame, it's the Mount St. Helens National Monument 'birth certificate,' as we just happened to be gathering on August 26 (the anniversary of when the monument act was signed into law!).

We love celebrating our volunteers, but it's also important to recognize the staff beavering away in the background - huge thanks to Volunteer Programs Coordinator Karen Schaan for helping to keep boots on the ground again this season!