Gnome appears on Mount St. Helens camera

KELSO, Wash., April 30 (UPI) -- Park officials at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Toutle, Wash., say a garden gnome has mysteriously appeared in front of a camera.

The officials said the gnome was first sighted by the camera -- part of the park's VolcanoCam Classic, which allows visitors to view recent images from the park on its Web site -- Tuesday afternoon, KIRO-TV in Seattle reported Wednesday.

The gnome, located near the Johnston Ridge Observatory, about five miles from the volcano, is holding a small white sign that appears to read "I will get the snow," but officials said the writing is difficult to make out.

Park officials said they do not know who placed the gnome in front of the camera, but the area is accessible to any park visitors on skis.