Dark, smoky Sunset (Crater)

One of my adventures this weekend was visiting Sunset Crater. 

 Imagine a big...BIG pile of soot.

There is a trail looping the base of Sunset Crater but hiking to the summit is not permitted. A trail providing access to the summit and crater was closed in 1973 because of excessive erosion caused by hikers.

At least it provides a nice view of the San Francisco Peaks!

At the base of Sunset Crater was the Bonita lava flow. It was created in the early 1100's. 

What blog would be complete without a few random shots of unique spots of nature??

You would have thought these trees were charred very recently!

The following picture is described as a 'squeeze-up'. The definition is pretty self explanatory when you think about it. A squeeze-up is formed when lava from beneath the surface oozes through a crack in the lava crust.

Squeeze-up

In the valley pictured below lies a series of red cinder-covered vents, marking a fissure along which the most recent volcanic activity occured. Sunset crater began erupting in 1064 a.d. and marks the northwestern end of this fissure.

Cinder Hills overlook