Caleb Jacobson
“My relationship with the environment is what drives my photography”
Image © Caleb Jacobson
Recent threats from proposed mining and road development could permanently alter this gem. Known pre-blast as the Mount Fuji of America, this mountain is a historical and ecological icon, and I was disheartened that not many people were aware it was in danger.
In 1980, Mount St Helens erupted, causing a catastrophic event, obliterating the surrounding landscape and leaving a wasteland of volcanic rubble and skeletal trees. Since the eruption, the area known as the blast zone has made a remarkable recovery, giving scientists an unparalleled research opportunity.
Like many other wild and scenic places, Mount St Helens has new problems threatening to permanently alter its diverse and fragile landscape. The Pumice Plain, located in the blast zone, is one of the most important areas for research and recreation on the mountain. Plans from the US Forest Service to construct a road in this area would have a massive impact on the ecosystem, research studies, and wild nature of the landscape.
Furthermore, a proposed copper and gold mine near the mountain would have devastating effects on the surrounding Green River watershed. Toxic chemicals necessary for this type of mining have a high risk of entering the river system, harming not only plants and animals, but contaminating the drinking water that thousands depend on downstream.
Image © Caleb Jacobson
The Plan in Action
My first step was reaching out to Cascade Forest Conservancy, an organization committed to protecting Mount St Helens from road development and mining. Cascade helped me understand the risks and impacts in the area and where I should focus. I used this knowledge, combined with my own research, to plan multiple trips to different parts of the mountain so I could explore all angles of what was at stake.
Walking through the Pumice Plain with Michal Orcyk, the development director for Cascade Forest Conservancy, we passed through meadows of vibrant wildflowers, foliage-dense streambeds and active research sites. Following the Truman Trail, the same path the proposed road would follow, we came to understand the true cost of a road here.
When selecting the images for this project, it was a constant balance of including photos that showcased the raw beauty of Mount St Helens with ones that provided important context on the conservation issues at hand. It was a challenge to communicate and document the proposed road and mine without a visual reference.
My favorite image from the project has to be of the sun rising over the blast zone, lakes, and Pumice Plain on the north side of the mountain. To me, this photo encapsulates it all: the destruction from the eruption, the regrowth of a new ecosystem, and the vulnerable area in which the proposed road would be bulldozed.
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