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Grotto Yahoo! Group
NSS Web Page Award, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
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 On the weekend prior to the NSS convention, the Oregon Grotto hosted a campout on Mount St. Helens. This was primitive camping (no water or toilets), walking distance from caves and right at the base of a continuously erupting volcano. Everyone had a great time.
Pictures
If you attended this campout and have pictures of the event online, please e-mail us to share them. We'll forward them to all the other participants.
 Campsites
Each campsite had room for about ten cars and ten tents. There were additional smaller campsites nearby. Forest service camping rules apply; this location is in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Campfires were allowed.
Trips
Guided trips met at 10:00 am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Trips included:
 - Friday: Gremlin Cave, Pillars of Hercules Cave, and Kim's Cave
- Saturday: Pillars of Hercules Cave, Ole's Cave, Lake Cave, and Flow Cave
- Sunday: Pillars of Hercules Cave
- Little Red River Cave was cancelled due to problems with the key/gate.
- Ape Cave is a publicly accessible cave, fees are charged in the summer. (All other MSH caves are wild caves).
Other Activities
We camped on the south side of Mount St. Helens, ideal for climbing and caving. The best viewpoints to see the effects of the 1980 eruption are on the northwest and east sides of the mountain, which are 2-3 hours away. Info at http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/04mshnvm/attractions/index.shtml
Mount St. Helens was open for climbing. Info at http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/
The caves of the Trout Lake area are 2 and 1/2 hours to the east, where pre-convention and post-convention trips were led by the Willamette Valley Grotto.
Mt. St. Helens from Johnston Ridge
 
Little Red River Cave and Dogwood Cave
 
Ole's Cave Entrance and Lake Cave Stream Passage
 
The Meat Ball in Ape Cave and Formations in Double Tree Mold Cave
For more pictures of the Mt. St. Helens Caves, visit the Oregon Grotto photo album at http://www.oregongrotto.com/gallery/
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