We Climbed a Volcano!

We’re on the road again! Equipped with a new rear axle on our rig, we set out from Tucson on our 3,600 mile, eight state adventure on Wednesday. We headed northeast through central Arizona, carving our way through spectacular mountains, canyons, and buttes.

After an overnight at Fool Hollow State Park, we traveled north to the Petrified Forest National Park. Though we were short on time, the trek to see this unique park was worth the effort. The vast expanse comprises petrified logs dating from the Late Triassic Epoch (225 million years ago), incredible fossils sure to inspire any would-be archeologist, grasslands, badlands, and breathtaking painted canyons displaying layers of evolution in red and white rock facings.

Onward to New Mexico, we reached our Harvest Host for the night at the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. We relished a peaceful night as the only campers on the property.

With trekking poles in hand on Friday morning, we embarked on the self-guided tour. We climbed up a volcano! What a unique experience. The ½ mile trail layered with lava cinders brought us to the rim of the volcano, rising 150 feet in elevation along the way. The volcano last erupted 10,000 years ago, leaving a crater 1,400 feet wide and 800 feet deep. The resulting lava flow spans 23 miles. The hiking trail was cut through this lava field; the vast array of lava boulders seemed endless. We also learned the Bandera volcano is surrounded by an additional 15 volcanos. We could see the humps of these volcanos as we climbed higher on the trail.

Next, we hiked down to the ice cave, where layers of ice have formed over thousands of years inside of a lava tube. The temperature in this cave ensures perpetual ice. In the mid 1900’s, ice was harvested and sold. Now, the ice cave is preserved as part of this family-owned attraction.

Back at the gift store/museum, we saw artifacts dating hundreds if not thousands of years old which were carefully extricated from the lava field. Additionally, we saw wooden stirrups which reputedly were hand carved by the Conquistadors who traveled in New Mexico in the 1500’s. These were traded at the family’s Trading Post where the ice was sold in the mid 1900’s. What a fabulous Harvest Host experience!

As our final adventure for today, we experienced a true dust storm. Forty to sixty mph winds whipped up dust from the desert terrain as we traveled north of Albuquerque. Vehicles slowed to a crawl. Drivers engaged their hazard lights. It was a scary experience. Wildfires are raging northwest and northeast of us which is unsettling to say the least. We are grateful to be tucked in for the night at our campground at Cochiti Lake and pray we will not experience the threat of a nearby fire. We covet your prayers for our safety.

We hope you’ll come along for the ride on this great southwestern adventure. We’ll be visiting twelve national parks and monuments, as well as many other beautiful sites. I guarantee the beauty we’ll share in our photos will make you smile!