I was very excited about our visit today.
There are several hikes at this monument, but the two that I selected started on top of the cone.
Up we drove, 1300 feet, winding around and around the volcano
on a steep narrow road with no berm, to the top of the cone--8182' above sea level.
Info boards at the top of the drive explained how volcanic activity formed the surrounding area. I found this very interesting because the stuff described is what is happening now in Hawaii.
Facing the other direction we learned how this cone was formed.
This why I was very excited about our first hike; we were going to stand inside an actual volcano! How cool is that!!!
In a few minutes we would be on that little light squiggle just right of center!
A few minutes later here we were looking back up at where we started. I found this very extraordinary, and more fascinating that the Aztec ruins in Mexico.
After the initial blowup, molten rock, cinders and ash dropped down from the sky and formed the cone. Other lava flowed out weak spots in the newly formed cone.
On our way out I found this lizard. This pic isn't black and white. These are the actual colors of the lizard and the rock.
Back up we went and kept on going up to the crater rim for a walk around the top of the volcano.
As Lonesome Dove fans we found this information interesting.
We could see the plain below covered with thousands of cattle.
From the top we could see for miles. That faint black mesa on the left is in Oklahoma.
We could see tiny toy vehicles driving along the road.
A little further along the trail we could see the parking lot.
We also saw a dirt driveway running back into the hills for about a mile to a cluster of red roofs on the right. Now that is living out in the middle of nowhere!
Back at the parking lot we picked up the truck for the ride back down.
We retraced our route through open range
and home.
We enjoyed our hike and plan to return later to explore more of the lava fields.
Not tomorrow, though.
Louise and Duane
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