Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. The eruption blew out the side of the mountain and what you see now is a hollowed out mountain top.
The eruption blew ash and pumice over move than 150 square miles in what is called the blast area. The rock and ash filled in Silver Lake which sat at the foot of Mount St.Helens. The water run off has begun to carve its way through the ash in the valley basin. The area now at the foot of the mountain looks like moon scape.
All the folks who died but two were located outside the evacuation zone that the sciencists thought would be effected by the blast. Most were caught in the tremendous mud slide that followed the eruption caused by the hot ash melting the snow covered mountain.
The lake that was filled in was actually Spirit Lake. The one you mentioned, Silver Lake, is closer to I-5 near the town of Toutle. Silver Lake is known as having some fantastic views of both Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier.
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