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



Craters of the Moon - Part 2

Continuing from the earlier post, in the post lunch session we took a conducted tour of the "Craters of the Moon" with a Park Ranger as a guide. Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. To enter we required permits which were being issued at the Rest Rooms stop. The tall lanky young and pretty park ranger told us that we would require flashlights to see inside the caves. She was well informed and communicated fluently and impressively thus making the tour a pleasurable experience.
 The Lava fields here formed between 15000-20000 years ago. Different types of lava flows can be seen here:Some having a rough, jagged, or clinkery surface called áa lava.,while others have a smooth, ropy, or billowy surface called pahoehoe lava. The stark appearance initially gives an impression of lifelessness. But this is also home to a rich diversity of life with more than 600 plant and 250 animal species.
 Many animals found here are nocturnal like : woodrats (also called packrats), skunks, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, bats, nighthawks, owls, and most other small desert rodents.  Crepuscular animals( those that are active at dawn & dusk) also found here include mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, mountain cottontails, jackrabbits, and many songbirds. And diurnal animals like: ground squirrels, marmots, chipmunks, lizards, snakes, hawks, and eagles. Of course we did not see a single animal during our tour !
Caves:There are 3 main types of caves found here: lava tubes, fissure caves and differential weathering caves.The vast majority of caves found within the Monument are lava tubes. They formed when the cooling exterior of an active lava flow insulated the molten river within allowing it to continue to flow. In this way lava sometimes flowed for many miles underground until the source was cut off or diverted leaving behind an empty space or “cave.” Indian tunnel (shown in photos) is an excellent example of a lava tube cave.
The Shoshone Tribes made use of the lava caves for shelter and as a source of water during their travel through the Lava fields.

Please enjoy the tour and pictures:

The Forest Ranger and Mira

The rough jagged clinkery surface of 'aa' lava

Fissures in the rock allowing for water retention & shade to support life systems

Plant Life in the aa lava region - above & below

Close up of desert plant

Small Cave provides shelter for small mammals

Larger Caves

Even bigger caves

The Indian Tunnel - one of the largest caves here - a fine example of a Lava Tube

The tour group descending into the Indian tunnel

Formations on the cave roof - above and below

Looking up skyward from the labyrynths of the cave

Exited from the tunnel and back on track !

 Smooth, ropy, or billowy surface called pahoehoe lava

Craters of the Moon

We started our 4 day tour to Yellowstone on a Thursday(4th October'12). There was great excitement and expectation in the air. Rohit felt that his Subaru Legacy would be a bit cramped for such a long journey and therefore rented a Chevy Malibu instead which has has about the same engine HP as Legacy, but more comfortable leg and head room and extra boot space. The Malibu is powered by a 2500 cc engine and fitted with automatic transmission and has special features like digital dashboard and cruise control. We left Boise around 9.30 am, crossed Mountain Home veered off the freeway and reached Twin Falls around 11.30 am and stopped at Starbucks for a beverage break. I had my usual Chocolate Mocha while others went for Cappucino/Coffee Latte. This gave us time to stretch our limbs and use the washroom. Then we resumed our journey towards Craters of the Moon ( a volcanic region) which is a National Monument and National Preserve in the Snake River plain in Central Idaho. We reached around 1.30 noon had another washroom break and we decided to have lunch before proceeding on a conducted tour of the Lava fields. We had worked up a voracious appetite by then, located a comfortable niche surrounded by black lava soil and a bleak but beautiful landscape and tucked hungrily into the delicious egg biryani prepared earlier in the morning.

I have packed my bags

The Egg Biryani is ready too

The Chevvy Malibu - Rent-a Car @ $ 25/day

Rest Rooms Stop at Craters in the Moon

We have entered Craters of the Moon - see the black soil !

I love to climb on these rocks but I am hungry - How about finding a nice place to eat  ?

Okay lets look around

Ah we have located a good place

I am really ravenous - the Biryani is heavenly

Volcanic soil does not support vegetation - hence the sparse and bleak landscape

What I love about Boise

I love to wake up leisurely around 8.00 am. and laze around in bed  till I get my bed coffee: steaming hot Starbucks coffee ( it is called Latte in these parts - expresso coffee mixed with steaming milk). I savour and enjoy my morning cofee and take at least 20 mts to complete this pleasurable ritual and no one can persuade me to rush through this .
 I love my grand daughter Mira's hugs. She gets dressed, finishes her breakfast & and before her departure for school she gives warm  hugs to "thatha"(that's me) and patti (my wife Shobha).
 I love to check my mail and my blogs for new comments,send replies and publish new posts.
I love my breakfast -  BF menu is generally Granola+cold milk and English muffin with marmalade topped of with a glass of juice - choice of cranberry,orange,grapefruit,apple. Followed by more coffee or tea. On other days when the batter is ready we have idlis or dosas with sambar/chutney or Adai with vellam/ghee/butter.
I love the splendid weather here. Daytime temperatures  hovers around 65 degree F here, sun shines nice and bright, sometimes a few scattered clouds.The weather conditions are most conducive for walking.
I love the people here: they are industrious  and do all the household chores themselves - drive their own cars,vacuum their houses,wash their clothes,water their gardens,mow their lawns,cut their their trees,clip their hedges,splinter their wood.
I love the Supermarkets here - Fred Mayer, Home Depot, Ross -  Dress For Less,Sierra Trading Depot. They are all huge,immense,sprawling and well stocked. The aisles are long and wide and negotiating carts is easy. I love the carts here - they have car shaped kid friendly carts with steering wheels and they also have battery operated self steered carts for the physically disabled persons.
I love the tree lined roads, avenues, streets, lanes lined with  pine,fir, cherry,maple,weeping willows and many others. The trees shimmer and shine in there pristine glory.
 I simply love the fall colours. I can actually see the colours changing from green to yellow, flaming yellow,golden, burgundy, orange. I see the changes every day. Autumn is a glorious season.

Evergreen Enchanting Pine tree

A house with wooden fencing for backyard & electrically operated garage door

I love my morning walks and would not trade my walk for anything under the sky. During walks I am invariably greeted by neighbours & strangers - Hey I haven't seen you before, Are you new here, You are welcome to Boise, Enjoy your visit here, The weather is glorious, Hi There, Good Morning. This morning I met a guy called Bill at a pedestrian crossing. After the initial salutations the conversation continued and went on for more than 20 mts covering a range of topics.We spoke about the Presidential debate in America and corruption in India...........
Posted here are some pics taken during my morning walks. These clicked during first week of October. The trees are still largely green. Some have started turning yellow:


Weeping willow

Trees & Lawn at the entrance to my daughters house

A Cul de Sac - where vehicles can easily turn around

A Mormon Church in Boise

Drab and dry hills devoid of vegetation present a captivating view

Deer grazing & resting peacefully in front the Idaho Fish & Game Staff Offices - The deer move around undisturbed in the parks.

Beautiful Timber House - open architecture with no fencing in the front

Early Fall colours - pIcs taken early October hence predominantly green colours