When I was in 8th grade, we camped on Charlie Wincewicz's big gravel bar - just below the crossover bridge. This would have been 1981. My buddy and I caught several summer steelhead that weekend just bank fishing, with little skill being employed.

I also remember the day St. Helen's erupted - May 18th - it was a clear day, because we drove up to Capitol Forest and watched the monster ash cloud rise from the mountain. No ash fell that day, because the prevailing winds were going east, which is why it was dark in Spokane that whole day.

Life seemed a little better back then. Of course I didn't live along the Toutle, so maybe those folks see it differently.