Scientist returns to familiar volcano

0 Comments | Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), October, 2004

Byline: Scott Maben The Register-Guard

For University of Oregon geology professor Kathy Cashman, Mount St. Helens picked a horrible time to get lively.

The southwestern Washington volcano is the reason Cashman chose volcanology as a career, and she studied the 1980-86 eruptions there long after others lost interest. But she has missed the recent spell of activity while on sabbatical in Italy.

"Having the volcano come to life again while I am out of the country has been a bit of a shock," Cashman said in an interview last week via e-mail.

She decided to cut short her stay in Italy, where she recently watched lava flow from Mount Etna, and fly home this weekend to be near St. Helens.

"I am returning because I feel that I know the...