The Columbian from Vancouver, Washington • 185

THE COLUMBIAN SUNDAY MAY 14 2000 The Mountain Recovers mV" vt! s'r The Forest Service struggles to preserve an ecological wonder that also attracts millions of visitors yearly VOLCANO Memories now Eve on a hiBside north of La Center Exit 16 is the one we take to La Center On dear days the mountain is dearly visible for a few miles smith id the exit and as yon drive into town And you ask 'Do I remember Mount St I grew ny in its shadow and I w3 always have the mommies above (and a lot of ether ones) as long os I Eve" By KAHHE DURBIN MJ i fp UNVffIMII mKqWrUWr ongress created the 11000Dacre Mount St Helena National Volcanic Monument in 1982 aa a combi nation adentific laboratory and tourist attraction The Gifford Knchot National Forest was best known as one of die big-volume timber producers The agency had little experience managing a woriddass tourist destination or a world-renowned laboratory of ecological recovery Last year the monument and die surrounding national forest attracted 13 million visitors down from die 4 2 miTlinn who visited die rerim in die peak visitor year of 1995 About half crane from Oregon and Washington about a third RECREATION AV 18 two missions haven't always coexisted peacefully The Forest Service which prevailed over die National Park Service in the contest to operate die new monument had its work cut out for it from die beginning Before die eruption the KNBUUm Columbia Road wtt a view: Highway 504 the only route to Mount St Helens from the west offers breathtaking vistas like this one of Hoffstadt Creek Bridge BobLauffUm Where can You Meet Pleasant Folk and Chit-Chat About The Good Old Days? Enjoying a good chit chat with friends about cherished memories can sometimes be the most rewarding part of the day And if the company enough perhaps the excellent accommodations and chef-prepared meals will sway your opinion We invite you to come by for a tour and a little chitchat Try Tbe Bedford most distinctive senior residence for independent living Tbe Bedford was established by load resident Alice Schultz who has more than 40 years of experience Good old-fashioned quality and attention to detail will never go out of style at Tbe Bedford be around friendly folk and a staff that will allow you your independence It's the simple things in life that often bring us the most pleasure i the 'EDFORD Distinctive Senior Living 360891-6898 wwwkoericksteriingcom.