2023 - West - Arco ID - Craters of the Moon - North Crater Trail, Snow Cone, Spatter Cone, Devil's Orchard

 September 3 - Today we hiked the North Crater Trail to Snow Cone in Craters of the Moon. It was only about 2 miles but we were warned by the park ranger as we entered. She asked if any of us had heart conditions because "North Trail could take you out". We thought she was being over-dramatic. It was a lot of steep ups and downs but the rewards of seeing the craters made up for the hard climbs.

Walking the top edge of these craters made my knees wobble.

Vaughan, however, wanted to walk down into one but realized that none of us wanted to follow so he turned around and headed back up. He loves a challenge.

The lava rocks can be so beautiful.

Spatter Cones are small volcanoes that explode and spatter lava unlike others that have lava flows.

Looking into the cones you cannot see how deep this goes.

Looking into another spatter cone - still snow inside (and someone's hat).

Next we walked through Devil's Orchard. All the large tree were dead and extremely creepy looking but still beautiful in their own way amongst all the lava rock.

2023 - West - Yellowstone to Arco Idaho & Craters of the Moon - September 1-2

 September 1 - Left West Yellowstone for Arco Idaho. According to the 2020 census the population of Arco was 879.  Arco was the first community in the world to be lit by electricity generated solely by nuclear power (but only for an hour in 1955). 

So, why Arco?  Craters of the Moon National Monument. This whole area was covered with lava issued not from one volcano but from a series of deep fissures known as the Great Rift 15,000 years ago. The most recent eruption was about 2000 years ago. The area is covered with spatter cones, cinder cones, lava tubes and caves.

September 2 - Craters of the Moon

Lava Tube - 

Entrance to Dewdrop Cave - 

This is why they say you should wear long pants and long sleeve shirts - lava can be very sharp. Climbing down into this cave Vaughan brushed against a rock.

Entering Indian Cave -

Inferno Cone - 

Here is Jill, Jim & Vaughan at the top.

Below, can you see the 3 little people standing on the top? That was my view of them without zooming in with the camera as above. The distance is very deceptive.

Hiking the Tree Molds trail - a large crater

When lava surrounded the trees over time the trees burned and disintegrated leaving a void where the trees stood.

After a long day, we went to Pickles Place for fried pickles and Atomic burgers.

Across the street is the preserved sail of the USS 666 Hawkbill submarine (otherwise known as the Devil Boat). After being decommissioned in 2000 it was placed here to honor Arco's long association with the Navy and nuclear fleet.

There was also a MK 14 torpedo that I just had to ride.