Craters of the Moon, Idaho - 8/14 - 16, 2009

Moving westward, we camped at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho for a couple of days. This was a place where ancient volcanoes created a bizarre landscape featuring massive black cinder cones, where caves formed from lava flows and the vast expanse of twisted lava hardened. This barren landscape is 1,100 square miles of national park (about the size of R.I.) This volcanic area was created with two plates in the earth collided forming huge cracks in the earth. In time the lava exploded. In 1969 the Apollo 14 astronauts, including Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell came here to study volcanic geology in preparation for a trip to the moon. We know now that the moon is much different.

There was a 7-mile loop around the park with various places to stop and walk to get close up view of the lava. I learned about 'a'a lava (thick lava that is rubble-like - looks like piled rocks) and pahoehoe lava, very fluid flowing lava that is smooth and rope-like.

We climbed what was called Inferno Cone, a half mile trek up this steep mound, that is a massive natural pile of cinders, that levels off and then there is a second mound to climb to the top. The climb was worth the grand view we saw of this strange landscape with its seemingly endless expanse of black lava, the vast openness, the trees and other vegetation that strive to survive this harsh area.

There was a short walk to see spatter cones. These were formed near the end of a volcanic eruption when the hot lava was shot only a short distance into the air and fell back around the vent opening. The lava built up, creating walls resembling mini volcanoes.



Some of the most interesting volcano features were the lava tubes that formed caves. We were able to crawl down for a closer inspection. The National Park Ranger told us that Shoshone Indians likely witnessed some volcanic eruptions along this great rift. He also told us that they used the caves in various ways -- to store buffalo meat in the cold recesses of the caves, but also used the caves for protection against their enemies. They could hide easily.




I continue to be amazed at the flowers, trees and shrubs that thrive and have adapted to this harsh environment. In all, a very interesting place to visit and glad we stopped!