Best Souvenir Buy

I really liked this post card and it makes a fine addition to the collection on the walls inside the

Little House on the Highway.

I was concerned about buying some glasses to safely view the eclipse by.  I figured there will be vendors all up and down the eclipse path hawking cheap Made in China viewing glasses and I certainly am not trusting the Chinese in protecting my eyeballs from the sun's glare.
So I was very happy to see these were made in the good old U S of A.

Moldy Trees?

Tree Mold Trail

Okay, when I first read this in the brochure that's what I thought.  Once

there at the trail head I had an "oh I see" moment.  This was a long one

mile hike in.  Yeah, one mile isnt that far but it was mid-day, getting

hot and through a lava field.  But I was glad I went to see the tree molds.

When the lava flowed it passed through a forest of trees.  One tree

remained standing and left a perfect round core in the lava.

A few others fell and left their impressions where you can still see the

distinctive pattern in the bark.  There are probably many more impressions

buried beneath the surface of the lava.

Looks like tire tracks from 2000 years ago.  Hmm...

Craters of the Moon had the most descriptive trail signs I had ever seen.

Snow Cones?!

Snow Cone Trail

No, there were no snow cones in various fruity flavors to be bought at a vendor's booth.

The snow piles up in this deep lava tube and here it is July and it still has not melted away.

 Too bad the D.I.R.T. element left their mark by throwing sticks and stones

down onto the snow and ice.

Another trail branched off where you could look down into the Big Crater.

I wondered if anyone ever tumbled down that slope. 

 Knowing the stupidity of  D.I.R.T. probably so.

I can only hope.

Point Two Mile Up.

Spatter Cones Trail

Yep, it was only a .2 mile walk the side of this large cinder cone but it got my attention.  

Must be the altitude.  Yeah, that's it and also why I forgot to take a photo.

At the top you had a grand view all around.  You were also supposed to see

the line of cones following the rift in the earth's crust that leaked out

all this lava as recent as 2000 years ago.

I was distracted and impressed as to how this one big tree came to be at the top.

And how this looked like it belonged on the ocean beach with all the other driftwood.

They came from Illinois to take in the view.

Lichen

Devil's Orchard Trail

One of the walks the signs focused on the lichen growing.  Being that

lichen gets it's nutrients from the atmosphere this is a good barometer of

the air quality.  Well the lichen isn't doing so good of late.  There used

to be a lot more back in the 50's.  As remote as Craters of the Moon is

the air quality is still bad enough to affect the lichen.

A bench, some shade, I'll take that. 

 I sat there thinking sad lichen thoughts.

I continued on my way and this little butterfly made me think of better things.

Then towards the end of the walk I notice where a little bunny left his

mark in the fresh cement soon after it was poured.  

And I was smiling again.

Stop for Breakfast

Devil's Orchard Trail

Gee I look like a grumpy old man.  Honestly I was sitting there thinking

about how fortunate I was to be out here in the peace and quiet of Nature eating my bran flakes.

And I was admiring the pretty little flowers all around me while doing so.

Hot Lava Cat

Don't Walk on the Lava!

North Crater Flow Trail

They really stress the point on staying on the trails and paths.

I thought it interesting how the lava was different colors.

Later I saw this sign.

Well that's why the different colors.  Here is another example of some

buffoons walking on the lava and breaking it.  You may be able to see how

it was just like a turtle shell and hollow underneath until it broke through.

Craters of the Moon National Monument

This is where we've been.  No cell service there thus why no posts to the blog.

I was here some 30 plus years ago and as it goes, enough time has passed it

seemed like I this was my first time being here.  One of the very few nice

things about growing old I suppose.  You can revisit places and it is all new to you.

There is nothing much to see here but lots of lava and every type, shape

and form.  Lava is lava but it comes in many different form all of which

are given Hawaiian names which I will not try to pass on here.  I like

lava so I enjoyed all the walks and hikes through the various lava fields.

Amazing a tree could grow here.

The story about this now dead tree.

Very smooth lava which I didn't see much of.

Back to the Little House on the Highway.

Even flowering plants call the lava fields their home.

Time to Say Good-bye

to the best campsite yet.

There is a kitty in there asleep.

I'll miss all the pretty flowers that were around camp.

These especially.