Still cloudy and rainy, we opted to visit Ape Cave, just south of Mount St. Helens. Formed by a lava tube thousands of years ago, it was discovered by a logger in 1947. We arrived before the information office was open, so could not acquire proper lanterns for our exploration. Using only our small flashlights, we ventured into the beginning of the cave--it was pitch black with the flashlights off and not much brighter with them on! After finding our way out, we drove through clouds and rain to the eastern entry for Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. When the rain lightened (though the wind still blew) we climbed the 368 steps of the Windy Ridge trail to gain a hilltop view of Spirit Lake and of the blown-out portion of the volcano. As well, we saw the downed forest with some areas of natural regrowth and replanted trees from the top and along the drive up and down. Thirty-five years after the major eruption, the area is still devastated.