TITLE: A Hero on Mount St. Helens: The Life and Legacy of David A. Johnston
AUTHOR: Melanie Holmes
PUBLICATION DATE: May 18, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Serendipity placed David Johnston on Mount St. Helens when the volcano rumbled to life in March 1980. Throughout that ominous spring, Johnston was part of a team that conducted scientific research that underpinned warnings about the mountain. Those warnings saved thousands of lives when the most devastating eruption in U.S. history blew apart Mount St. Helens, but killed Johnston on the ridge that now bears his name. Melanie Holmes tells the story of Johnston’s journey from a nature-loving Boy Scout to a committed geologist. Blending science with personal detail, Holmes follows Johnston through encounters with Aleutian volcanoes, his work helping the Portuguese government assess the geothermal power of the Azores, and his dream job as a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Interviews and personal writings reveal what a friend called “the most unjaded person I ever met,” an imperfect but kind, intelligent young scientist passionately in love with his life and work and determined to make a difference.
REVIEW:
May 18, 1980
“Vancouver, Vancouver, This is it.”
Being from the Pacific Northwest and loving our mountains I understand David Johnson’s draw to Mt. St. Helens. It was amazingly beautiful mountain, it still is but in a very different way. I have climbed St. Helens twice now, once before reading this book and once after. I took a few extra moments the second trip up just for David. I was young when St. Helens blow but grow up learning about it and remember hearing David’s warning to Vancouver.
It was a wonderful tribute to a man who died doing what he loved. If you are from the PNW (or really anywhere) you should pick up this book and learn more about this wonderful young man.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & University of Illinois Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
4 Hearts
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