JRO reopens

The Johnston Ridge Observatory reopened today after its usual closure for the winter. The Observatory is located about 5 miles from Mt. St. Helens, and is currently the closest that the public is allowed to get to the crater. There is some talk about reopening the mountain to climbing at some point during the summer, but this is unlikely to occur before the current eruption slows down just a bit. For now, the view from Johnston Ridge is the best available to those who aren't professional volcanologists.