Have Camera, Will Travel.: Craters of the Moon to Grand Tetons

June 7

Craters of the Moon

Okay, we are not at those Craters of the Moon yet. We are at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. It looks more like this.

The stark black lava flow was extensive and extended for miles. What was surprising was the amount of floral life that was springing out of the cracks and crevices of the lava rock.

It was springtime in the park and life was blossoming from every orifice. Despite the flush of greenery it is a serene and austerely beautiful setting.

As I made our morning breakfast of porridge with walnuts and maple syrup, we watched through our RV window, as a desert rabbit hopped around the bushes in the lava flow.

We started our tour of the monument with a walk to the top of Inferno Cone. As was usually the case, Emma played the role of the hare and sprinted to the top while I made slow steady progress snapping pictures as I went.

Emma ascending Inferno Cone

View of our RV from the top of Inferno Cone

There were a few hardy plants at the summit as well as a resolute 45) Mountain Bluebird surveying the landscape from his isolated perch. Scores of 46) Violet -green Swallows were also flitting about after insects.

45) Mountain Bluebird

At our next stop we took a longer hike to Snow Cone, Splatter Cone and Silent Cone. The later hike went for a few miles and enabled Emma to dissipate her naturally overflowing energy.

Emma and Sonaa at the start of the Splatter Cone walk

Emma starting the Silent Cone Hike

Overlook of Craters of the Moon

From a distance, the landscape looks almost smooth like black asphalt but close up it looks like a massive lava rock pile.

Lava Rock

Emma continued a brisk pace which works well for me as it adds scale to my landscapes.

Clark's Nutcrackers

I was a little surprised to see Clark's Nutcrackers at Craters of the Moon as I expect to see them up in the mountains. On reflection, I realized we were at an elevation of 6,000 feet so well within this birds preferred altitude.

After a few miles, Emma started to peter out and I was able to reel her back in.

We met another Vancouver couple on our hike (Carl and Barb) who are also visiting national parks. We had an extended animated discussion as we compared notes about the national parks we had visited.

Our next stop was Broken Top Cone. Emma was done so rested in the car with Sonaa as I popped out for a quick photo tour around the short loop trail. Famous last words!

The loop trail was short. Unfortunately, I missed the loop and sailed off into the lava flow desert.
I was a few miles along the Lava Trees trail before I realized that this trail was not looping back to the parking lot.

Naturally, I had taken no water as I was only going for a short walk.

The hike was pleasant enough but my photographic enthusiasm was dampened by my increasing thirst.

I finally staggered back to the parking lot and fell into my honey's waiting arms.Well, not quite.
I had been gone quite a while and Emma was in her O. K. Corral gunfighter stance when I returned.

Worse yet, Emma was refreshed after a nice nap with Sonaa and she was raring to go on another hike. I slugged back a goodly quantity of water as we drove to the Caves area. Flying through the lava flows, Emma set a torrid pace as I gamely staggered behind.

Craters of the Moons landscape was formed by repeated lava flows upwelling from the molten magma flowing up through weaknesses is the earth's crust. The Hawaiian Islands are another example of lava flows creating islands that move steadily westward and are ultimately eroded back into the sea.
In this case, Craters of the Moon was over another of the earth's hot spots five million years ago. Lava flows welled up then hardened as continental drift moved it westward away from the hot spot. Today, Craters of the Moon is hundreds of miles west of the hot spot and there is no volcanic activity here.

Today, directly over the hot spot in the earth's crust is Yellowstone National Park.

We visited the Dewdrop and Boy Scout Caves. The caves are former molten lava tubes which flowed through areas of hardened lava. When the molten lava drained the lava cave was left.I rested near the entrance while Emma scrambled down to check out one of the caves.

Emma with a generous amount of sun screen at the entrance to Boy Scout cave.

Lava Rock and Red Squirrel

A parting view of Craters of the Moon National Monument before we headed east to follow the Snake River toward the Grand Tetons.

Prairie landscape west of Idaho Falls

June 8

We continued to follow the winding Snake River as it followed a serpentine route up into the Rocky Mountains. Near Swan River there was a large dam blocking the river. I'm always sad when I don't see fish ladders on rivers that once would have abounded with salmon.

Snake River

As we gained more altitude, the desert of the Columbia Basin and dry prairie of south central Idaho gave way to the spruce forests of the Rockie Mountains.

Along the way we spotted 48) Cedar Waxwings, 49)Yellow Warblers, 50) Osprey and a 51) Western Grebe. Unfortunately, the only bird that came close enough for a photo was the omnipresent Turkey Vulture.

Turkey Vulture

Toward sunset we arrived at Jackson, Wyoming. This was once a small cowboy town and still retains some of that flavour. However, it has been overwhelmed by the volume of tourists that descend on the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

Main drag in Jackson, Wyoming

Emma and Sonaa in Jackson, Wyoming

The Jackson town square is unique with four archways of antlers at each entrance to this small park.
Despite her aversion to tourist traps, Emma was intrigued by the antler arches. As usual, Sonna was more concerned with whether they were edible.