Of parachuting spiders and meat-eating beetles

Scientists have been amazed at the rapid recovery of life that followed the volcanic eruption at Mount St. Helens 10 years ago, but to the uninitiated, the place is still a stark and awesome wasteland.

Here and there on the rolling hills of gray volcanic ash around the volcano are clumps of invading fireweed and another pioneer called pearly everlasting. Alder and Willow saplings grow sporadically along the otherwise barren stream courses. Plugs of grass sprout in piles of elk droppings. And deer mic and pocket gophers, the survivialists of the animal world, also have managed to gain foothold.