Mount St. Helens mudslide strands photographers overnight, vehicles for a year or more
A group of astrophotographers took advantage of clear skies to head to Mt. St. Helens to take photos of the nighttime skies, only to become stranded when a mudslide washed out the only road there. They're off the mountain now, but their cars may be trapped for several months.
Photographers get trapped after landslide on Mount St. Helens, can't get cars back until next year
After a planned night to capture the Milky Way and Astros, Tim Uhler and other photographers found themselves stranded at the top of Mount St. Helen’s with no imminent plan to get their cars back until next summer.
TOUTLE, Wash. – A mudslide turned the road from Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens impassable Sunday night, stranding 12 people and one dog.
They were only trapped for a day, but their vehicles may remain trapped for months…or more.
One of those stranded on the volcano was astrophotographer Tim Uhler, who had gone to the observatory to shoot the Milky Way and the night sky.
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Uhler and other photographers planned to stay on the mountain overnight to capture the images. However, tourists who had tried to leave the mountain returned and reported that the road off of the mountain was blocked.
Mudslide covering road off of Mount St. Helens.
(@awesomeframers / FOX Weather)
Video of the road showed thick mud, trees and debris covering the asphalt from shoulder to shoulder.
"We knew that it was bad enough that we weren't getting out that night," Uhler said.
The stranded photographers were able to call for help, and they were rescued the following morning by helicopter.
But with the only road washed out and no hope for repairs anytime soon, their vehicles had to be left behind.
![Emergency responders sent to rescue the stranded crew on Mount St. Helens.]()
Image 1 of 2Emergency responders sent to rescue the stranded crew on Mount St. Helens. (FOX Weather)
![Emergency responders outfitting a dog for rescue.]()
Image 2 of 2Emergency responders outfitting a dog for rescue. (FOX Weather)
According to Uhler, he and the rest of the drivers were told that they wouldn’t be able to retrieve their cars until next summer.
"The only option we have is potentially partnering with a helicopter company to come out and maybe just lift them right off of the parking lot and down the mountain," Uhler said.
"It only needs to go about two miles, and there's companies in the area that do that," he added. "So, we're kind of working some back channels to see if that's a possibility."
Despite the ordeal, Uhler and his fellow photographers were able to bring home some nice photos from the eventful night.
Mount St. Helens
(@awesomeframers / FOX Weather)