Mount St. Helens visitor centers still cut off by landslide on road

VANCOUVER, Wash. — A landslide that has cut off access to two Mount St. Helens visitor centers and a few homes won't be cleared until the end of this week at the earliest, the state Department of Transportation said Wednesday.

"We're hoping to start repairs within the next few days," spokeswoman Alissa Bateman said.

The landslide, measuring about 30 feet wide and 230 feet long, fell on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway on Monday morning, down a steep slope on a sharp bend in the road.

The Coldwater Ridge and Hoffstadt Bluffs visitor centers were both closed until the road is cleared. That means some of the scenic drive and trails on the northwest side of the mountain are inaccessible. Heavy rains last weekend weakened soils already saturated from previous rains and led to the slide, according to transportation officials.

Bateman said a number of large logs will need to be removed from the roadway before the mud and other debris can be cleared away.

Information

Mount St. Helens National Monument: www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/current-conditions/