Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Spatter Cones & Inferno Cones

We continued our journey through Craters of the Moon National Park and visited the spectacular Cinder Cones & Spatter Cones.
Cinder Cones form when gas rich volcanic froth erupts high into the air and then piles into a mound. "Inferno Cone" is a classic example of cinder cone.These cinders were actually blown by the wind and squirted in this direction from a vent far below far below near the spatter cones parking lot forming a mountain sized pile of black barren cinder.
Spatter Cones were miniature volcanoes formed when blobs of molten lava were lobbed into the air during the last gasp of an eruption sequence that ended about 2100 years ago.
In 1969 Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, Joe Engle and Eugene Cernan visited Craters of the Moon. They explored the lava landscape in order to learn the basics of volcanic geology in preparation for future trips to the moon.
After this we continued our journey towards Jackson Hole which is around 200 miles from Craters of the Moon. We briefly stopped at Idaho Falls for beverages/rest rooms. We were traveliing parallel to the Snake River for a considerable stretch and were treated to some glorious views on the countryside,the river, hills. We stopped at the Pallisades Dam & reservoir for some breathtaking views. It was dusk there and the sun was setting. Shortly thereafter the light faded and we drove on in darkness until we reached Jackson Hole mountain resort, a valley situated in the US State of Wyoming, near the Western border of Idaho. We were hungry by now and drove straight into Pica's  Mexican Taqueira for dinner: Burrito (rice & beans wrapped in Tortilla) and Quesedilla (grilled veggies & cheese in Tortilla) Finally we checked into Hamptons Inn for for our night halt. It had been a long day and we were really tired and curled up in bed for a good nights sleep.
Inferno Cone - Above & Below
Inferno Cones & Spatter cones View Point
Spatter Cone - A mini Volcano
The inside of a Spatter Cone
Colorful and exotic rock formations at Spatter Cone - Above & below
A volcano shaped hill clicked from the car


Another stunning view enroute to Jackson Hole
Views of the Pallisades Dam Reservoir at Sunset

The Mexican Eatery at Jackson Hole

The charming hostess at the eatery who willingly posed for the photograph



29 comments:

  1. the colorful lichen is pretty on that dark lava rock. but the sunset scenes steal the show. :)

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  2. Great photos! It's nice you were able to find vegetarian Mexican food. Looking forward to the food in India.

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    1. Thanks Gigi. Have a wonderful experience of Indian cuisine !

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  3. This is some other worldly place!! Great captures, especially the sunset hues are superb.
    Have a happy week ahead :)

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  4. Amazing clicks!!! Glad u are having a fantabulous time!!
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  5. Your way of moving around is what must be done. I was in the Yellow Stone for just one and half days.Budget was indeed a matter of constraint. I would have loved a chance to drive around like you are now doing.
    Good really good.

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    1. Yes this was possible thanks to my daughter and son in law. They had take 2 days leave(Thu/Fri)added a weekend(Sat/Sun)and we travelled for 4 days at a stretch.

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  6. Those sunset pictures in the water are simply beautiful... I guess a lovely day that was ..

    I need to go and visit all these places soon ...

    Bikram's

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    1. Thanks Bikram.Take a holiday and pack your bags soon !

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  7. Mr. Ramakrishnan, Aren't these cinder cones amazing? Have you tried to climb up the volcanic ash? Its fun. You should give a try if not haven't.

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    1. No we did not. We only walked up the spatter cones since there was a paved pathway.

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  8. This is something so exciting! Great details presented with the pictures.

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  9. WOW. I think I should hit this part of the country soon. Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

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    1. Yes Saru ji. Please pack your bags quickly and set off !


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  10. I love the water under the sunset, fantastic.

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  11. Awesome. I love that sunset and water!

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  12. Amazing colors on the rocks and sunset reflection in the water! The Mexican restaurant looks like fun, I'd like to try a mushroom quesadilla. :)

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  13. I particularly like the apricot coloured dam!

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  14. A beautiful document of your travels. The rocks are interesting!

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