The Mt. St. Helens Eruption and Bigfoot: A Tale of Nature’s Fury and Cryptid Mystery

Introduction

The eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980, stands as one of the most significant natural disasters in U.S. history, reshaping the landscape of Washington state and leaving a lasting impact on the environment and human communities. At the same time, the Pacific Northwest is also home to one of the most enduring mysteries in cryptozoology: Bigfoot, the elusive creature said to roam the dense forests of the region. While these two topics might seem unrelated at first glance, they are intertwined through the rich history of Bigfoot sightings around Mt. St. Helens and the intriguing stories that emerged in the aftermath of the eruption. This blog post explores the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, the history of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest, and the fascinating claims that connect these two phenomena.

The 1980 Eruption of Mt. St. Helens

On the morning of May 18, 1980, Mt. St. Helens, a stratovolcano in southwestern Washington, erupted with catastrophic force. The eruption was preceded by weeks of seismic activity, including thousands of small earthquakes and steam eruptions, which began in March 1980. These were early signs that magma was rising beneath the volcano, causing the north flank to bulge outward dramatically.

At 8:32 a.m. PDT, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered a massive landslide, which removed the north face of the mountain and reduced its summit elevation from 9,677 feet to 8,363 feet. This landslide exposed the volcano’s core, leading to a lateral blast of superheated gas and ash that devastated a 230-square-mile area in just minutes. The eruption column reached 80,000 feet into the atmosphere, and ash fell as far away as the Rocky Mountains. The disaster claimed 57 lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and caused billions of dollars in economic damage.

The eruption also created a unique opportunity for scientific study. The area around Mt. St. Helens was preserved as the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, allowing researchers to observe ecological recovery in real time. Over the decades, the volcano has become a symbol of nature’s power and resilience, as well as a laboratory for understanding volcanic processes and ecosystem regeneration.

Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest

Long before the 1980 eruption, the Pacific Northwest was already famous for its Bigfoot (or Sasquatch) legends. Bigfoot is described as a large, hairy, bipedal creature, often reported in remote, forested areas. The region’s dense woods, rugged terrain, and proximity to the Cascade Range make it an ideal habitat for such a creature, if it exists.

One of the most famous early Bigfoot encounters occurred near Mt. St. Helens in 1924, in an area now known as Ape Canyon. A group of gold prospectors claimed they were attacked by “apemen” after one of them shot at a creature. The prospectors described the beings as 7 to 8 feet tall, covered in black hair, and capable of throwing large boulders. This incident, widely reported at the time, helped cement the Bigfoot legend in the public imagination (Ape Canyon).

Over the years, numerous other sightings have been reported around Mt. St. Helens, including near Ape Caves, a lava tube system on the volcano’s south side. These sightings range from fleeting glimpses to more detailed accounts, often involving large footprints or vocalizations. For example, a 2002 sighting near Hoffstadt Bluffs described a large, hairy creature moving through the forest near the Toutle River (Bigfoot Photos). While skeptics dismiss these as hoaxes or misidentifications, believers argue that the sheer number of reports suggests something unusual is at play.

Bigfoot and the Eruption: Claims and Stories

The 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens added a new chapter to the Bigfoot saga, with several intriguing stories emerging about the creature’s fate in the disaster. Some claim that Bigfoot was directly affected by the eruption, while others suggest that the event led to unusual government activity related to Bigfoot.

Claims of Dead Bigfoot Bodies

One of the most sensational stories is the claim that Bigfoot bodies were discovered and removed after the eruption. According to some accounts, rescue and recovery teams encountered large, hairy creatures among the dead animals in the blast zone. Witnesses have described seeing badly burned Sasquatch bodies being loaded into trucks or airlifted by helicopters. One account from a man named Bradshaw, detailed in the book Who’s Watching You?: An Exploration of the Bigfoot Phenomenon in the Pacific Northwest by Linda Coil Suchy, describes a guarded pile of dead animals that included Sasquatch bodies. Another witness reported seeing a helicopter carrying a cargo net with at least three dead Bigfoot bodies, their arms and legs coated in grey ash (Washington Bigfoot).

These stories have fueled speculation about a government cover-up. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed to investigate these claims was met with a response stating that there were no documented reports of Bigfoot carcasses and no projects to recover them. However, the denial has only deepened the mystery for some, who interpret it as evidence of secrecy.

Bigfoot Sightings After the Eruption

Other stories suggest that Bigfoot survived the eruption but was displaced. Some eyewitnesses claim to have seen tall, hairy beings being treated in medical tents during rescue operations. One account describes seeing creatures with burned arms being wrapped in coats and taken away. These beings were reportedly guarded by armed personnel, and witnesses were debriefed and told to keep quiet about what they saw (Sasquatch The Legend).

There are also theories that Bigfoot migrated away from Mt. St. Helens after the eruption. Some believe they relocated to other parts of the Cascade Range, while others suggest they were taken to secure locations, such as Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a military installation near Tacoma, Washington. A 2012 sighting near the base, where a witness reported seeing a massive male Bigfoot, has been cited as supporting this theory.

Additionally, reports from areas outside Washington, such as Soda Springs, Idaho, noted increased Bigfoot activity in June 1980, shortly after the eruption. Tracks found on a family farm were studied by scientists, who estimated that three Bigfoot, including one up to 9 feet tall and 800 pounds, were traveling together (Reddit).

The Role of Ape Canyon and Sasquatch Steps

The Mt. St. Helens area has long been associated with Bigfoot, partly due to its geography. Ape Canyon, named after the 1924 incident, and the nearby Sasquatch Steps, a geological feature on the volcano’s north flank, are often cited in Bigfoot lore. The 1980 eruption heavily impacted Ape Canyon, altering its landscape, but the area remains a focal point for Bigfoot enthusiasts. The Sasquatch Steps, mapped by the USGS, are part of the post-eruption terrain, and their name reflects the region’s cryptid heritage (USGS Map).

Conclusion

The 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens and the legend of Bigfoot represent two very different aspects of the Pacific Northwest’s identity: one rooted in scientific fact and the other in mystery and folklore. While the eruption is a well-documented event with profound impacts on the environment and human society, Bigfoot remains an enigma, a creature of legend that continues to captivate imaginations.

The stories linking Bigfoot to the eruption—whether they involve dead bodies, government cover-ups, or migrations—add another layer to the region’s mystique. Whether these tales are true or not, they highlight the enduring human fascination with the unknown and our tendency to seek meaning in the intersection of natural disasters and unexplained phenomena.

As we reflect on the shadow of Mt. St. Helens, where nature’s fury met the whispers of the wilderness, the legend of Bigfoot lives on, a reminder that some mysteries are as resilient as the landscapes they inhabit.Key Citations