“For more than 100, Mount St. Helens had been quite, a beautiful mountain surrounded by forests.” “ Hikers climbed its winding trails.” “Skiers raced down it's snowy slopes.” “Children splashed in its crystal clear lakes.” “Except this peaceful mountain was not a mountain.” “It was a dangerous volcano, a deadly cone filled with molten rocks and poisonous gases.” “ And soon it would explode with the power of ten million tons of dynamite.” “In the minutes before the eruption, eleven year old Jessie Marlowe and her best friends Eddie and Sam were in forest near St. Helens.” “The day was warm and bright, the sky brilliant blue.” “St. Helens rose up over them,it's perfect triangle peak sparkling with snow.” “And then “KABOOM.” “Suddenly, Jess was in middle of the deadliest volcanic eruption in American history.” By dennis