We took off this morning to visit the El Malpais National Monument. No we had not heard of it either. It is an area of much volcanic activity. Malpais means badlands in Spanish. And they are bad, covered with lava, making a very rough terrain, a real hindrance to travel. There are four specific different volcanos in the area. We started with the El Calderon which is the oldest one here. It erupted about 115,000 years ago. The lava it spread has been covered with dirt and soil over time, but some lava tubes are still accessible. This whole area is a destination for cavers and spelunkers. Unfortunately, not that we cared, all the caves are off limits because of a disease that bats are susceptible to, White-nose-syndrome. And until the rangers can assure that all the recreational explorers have sterilized their clothing, all exploration is off so there is no chance of carrying the fungus that causes the disease to the bats that live in the caves. Junction Cave is one of the oldest in the monument.
 |
| Junction Cave |
We were able to look down into this cave after a beautiful 3/4 mile hike with panoramic views all around.
Next we went by Bandera Crater, the highest in the area. We continued to an area called Big Tubes. This is a 17 mile long lava tube system, one of the longest in the US. These tubes are where the lava flowed forming tunnels, some of the tops have fallen in forming collapses. Here are some photos of Big Skylight Cave and the Caterpillar Collapse. We reached them after a quite strenuous hike over the lava beds.
 |
| Big Skylight Cave |
 |
| Caterpillar Collapse |
 |
| Unnamed cave |
This is an example of our "path" through the lava.
The lava took many different forms as it flowed, some very rough sections like above and other more fluid shapes like below. It looks quite inhospitable, but as you can see there is quite a bit of vegetation in and on the lava. The small cinders provide a moist and protected area where seeds can sprout.
There is also a sandstone mesa that towers to 500' to the east of of the lava flows which is home to the Acoma Indian reservation. It is quite a sight in it's own right.
 |
| Rte 117 North |
We went up on the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook which gave a spectacular view of the area. You can readily see the lava flow terrain below the cliffs. This is the youngest lava in the monument. It came from the eruption of McCarty's Crater a mere 2000-3000 years ago! There were numerous Anazazi dwellings on the edges of the lava flows connected with political and economic system centered in Chaco Canyon 80 miles to the north. When they left the area in mid 1300's they went up into the Acoma area and split into two Pueblos, the Zuni and the Acoma. Anglos did not arrive in the area until the 1930's in the midst of the Great Depression.
 |
| Looking west toward extinct volcanoes |
 |
| See the lava in the foreground |
 |
| A gorgeous day! |
Jan and I walked around on the top of the cliffs, yeah I did! I'm doing better and better with my fear of heights. Not great, but better.
 |
| Proof |
 |
| Picture proof Jan was there too |
A beautiful look north to Mount Taylor, a composite volcano, in the distance.
Back to the motorhome after about 125 miles in the Jeep, about half off-road and maybe 3 miles or so hiking. A good day!
No comments:
Post a Comment