Thursday - November 5, 2009 - The Next Mission Begins at Mount St. Helens!
Student Argonaut Sachi Sanghavi


Today was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

We said a sad goodbye to Dr. Smith, and started off our day with a drive to the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). There, we met with researchers Cathy Summers and Rich Walters. Mrs. Summers explained to us the different types of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks found in the Cascade region, and some of the intricate processes involved in their formation.

We also met with Bob from NETL who gave us an informative explanation on carbon sequestration, a new technology still being researched, which might help us lower our carbon dioxide emissions by pumping CO2 down into the bedrock.

Afterwards, we drove to the Johnston Ridge Observatory, located at an elevation of 4500ft! The drive was simply fantabulous, though we only got to see glimpses of St. Helens. The weather just wouldn’t cooperate with us. It was so windy that it was hard to walk without staggering!

There, we reunited with our fellow Teacher Argonaut, Jennifer Peglow.

We were shown a small movie clip on the 1980 Mt. St. Helens blast. I did not know that the consequences of the blast had been so devastating until then! After the movie, we met our next host researcher, Dr. Virginia Dale from Oak Ridge National Lab, who gave us an insightful presentation on the ecological impacts of the 1980 eruption. Eric McDonald then briefed us on the geological impacts of the blast.

It was a long day for both the Argos and the film crew, but we all enjoyed every bit of it. Tomorrow will be our last day here. Everyone is a little sad but cannot wait to start on with whatever is in store for us! Our journey has been simply terrific till now! We’ve met well-known researchers, conducted experiments with them and have learned about their pivotal researches and findings. It has been truly inspirational! Pray the weather will be with us tomorrow!

Walking along Johnston Ridge with Dr. Dale, near the crater of Mount St. Helens.	The wind was staggering at the top of the mountain.
At Johnston Ridge Observatory with Dr. Dale.	Blowing off some steam with Dr. Dale at the end of a very long day!