USGS photo of Takhoma (Mount Rainier) viewed from the crater rim of Lawelat'la (Mt. St. Helens).
There are many Native American stories about the nature of the mountain. This is one told by Archie Iyall of the Cowlitz Tribe, 1974:
"Once in the long ago time Xwa’ni was going up the Sequiku (Toutle River), and he heard a great rumbling. He perked up his ear and soon realized that it was Lawelat’la (Mount St. Helens). He could tell that she was very angry. Soon he heard another great rumbling coming from another direction. He perked up his other ear and soon realized that this was Takhoma (Mount Rainier). He was also very angry. They were having a husband and wife argument and fight, and he was in between them. Then he saw Lawelat’la blow her top and knock the head off of her husband Takhoma."
