Flying the St Helens Crater: Five Seats, 600 Pounds, and the Pilot Decides

An aeroplane over Mount St Helens, from Troutdale, for up to five people. The 1980 eruption left a crater and a blast zone that make sense from above in a way they never do from the ground. The route flies up to and around the crater, over the ground the eruption flattened. On the way there and back: the Columbia River Gorge, which runs 85 miles across three Oregon counties and three in Washington, and the city of Portland on the Columbia and the Willamette, with Mount Hood behind it. Three practical things, all stated by the operator and all worth reading before booking. The flight depends heavily on the weather, and the pilot may fly an alternative route on the day. Flight times are approximate. There is a weight limit of 600 pounds for the group. And one rule with teeth: everyone must arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure. Turning up later than that cancels the flight automatically, with no refund, because the schedule cannot absorb it. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.