The "Plains of Abraham" trail on Mt. St. Helens is as surreal as it sounds. Basically you start riding through a temperate rainforest & make your way up to the base of St. Helens, skirting the mountain most of the way. Once in the blast zone it has the smallest traces of life & you know exactly how the trail received its name.

(above) Luke Hil rides down a pumice covered switch back with St Helens still releasing its mini fury in the background. The pumice on the trail is so thick that it tells you where you want to go!