Drew's Memorial Overlook at GCD EarthCache

Welcome to the GCD Mount Margaret Overlook, part of the Cascade Mountains. Here at the overlook, view the valley below. 

   This earthcache was placed in Memory of Drew136. A Delaware geocachers who passed caching in Georgia. We made the trip to do GCD and honor him in our own way, and this view was the spot we remembered him at. 

When you get to parking, you will follow the road for about a quarter of the mile before the trail veers off to the left and you start climbing and traversing up.

Mount Margaret is a 5,850-ft (1,780 m) mountain summit located in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in the  Gifford Pichot National Forest, in  Skamania County of southwest Washington state. It is situated in the Cascade Range  2 mi (3.2 km) north of Spirit Lake and 2.4 mi (3.9 km) northeast of  Coldwater Peak. Its nearest higher neighbor is Mount Whittier, 0.93 mi (1.50 km) to the north, and Mount St.Helens rises 92 mi (13 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from Mount Margaret drains into Coldwater Creek, a tributary of the  North Fork Toutle River. A hiking trail provides access to this mountain. This peak was named some time before 1900 by an admiring prospector for Margaret "Maggie" Shultz Layton (1877-1965), a pioneering resident of  Toledo, Washington.

Geology  

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to various climate differences. During the Pleistocene period, which dates back over two million years ago, glaciation advanced and retreated repeatedly, scarring and shaping the landscape. With the NOrth American Plate starting to override the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity occurred. Due to Mount Saint Helens' distal proximity to Mount Margaret, volcanic ash was common in the area immediately following the eruption. (Stacy note here: Volcanic ash was dispersed far and wide . Reaching all upwards, downwards and reaching towards the East coast)

Coldwater Peak is located in the  marine west coast climate zone of western  North America . Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range   causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.

During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.

Breaking this all down...   The mountain range was formed when competing plates decided they wanted to compete to be the best in forming the Cascade Mountains. But then Mother Nature many years later said , lets mix this up and hold my chai latte and threw the volcanic eruption into the mix in 1980 which further shaped and evolved the location and vegetation from the lateral blast that also killed geologist David Alexander Johnston who was 6 miles away. THis lateral blast destroyed the vegetation across the valley that you are looking at.

Be prepared, this is strenuous hike. Take plenty of water and snacks for your energy. There are plenty of caches along the way, and berries were plentiful when I did the hike the beginning of August.

Sources cited: Wikipedia and myself, from when I did it August 2025

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens produced approximately 540 million tons of ash, affecting areas over 22,000 square miles and reaching as far as the central United States.

Overview of the Eruption

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted violently, resulting in a massive ash cloud that rose over 12 miles into the atmosphere. The eruption began with a strong explosion, creating a mushroom-shaped ash cloud that spread rapidly due to prevailing winds. The ash fallout was significant, with the heaviest deposits occurring in a 60-mile-long swath immediately downwind of the volcano. 

USGS.gov+1

Ash Distribution and Impact

• Extent of Ash Fallout: The ash cloud traveled east-northeast, affecting areas as far away as the central United States. Light ash falls were reported in many Rocky Mountain states, including northern New Mexico, and fine ash reached cities in the northeastern U.S. within days. 

   

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• Local Effects: In Spokane, Washington, the ash caused total darkness during the day, leading to street lights activating due to the lack of sunlight. The ground was covered with up to half an inch of ash, creating significant challenges for residents and infrastructure. 

   

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• Volume of Ash: The total volume of ash produced was about 0.3 cubic miles before compaction, equivalent to a football field piled about 150 miles high with fluffy ash. This volume represents only about 7% of the material that slid off the mountain during the eruption. 

   

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Logging requirements:

1: As you stand at the overlook, describe the valley2025 below you. 

     Are there any changes from when this evolved to now?

Describe how you think the mountain range came to be and if you think the valley has changed or evolved from that time frame.

  2: Do you see evidence of volcanic ash still in the area.

3: A photo of your phone, GPS, you, something to prove you were there.

IF there is any additional doubt I was there, check my stats.