It's our last full day on the road and we have a lot of ground to cover. We are checked out of the hotel, car is loaded and we're getting gas next door when I remember that I left my nightlight in the bathroom. Sherri is still putting gas in her car and we make a quick drive back to the hotel to get the light. Problem is, we didn't tell her and left her all alone in a pretty sketchy area -- ugh.
It's been a back road morning, but we've reached our destination: The Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano.
Checking in takes a bit of time as we are given information on the place and some guidance. We also find out that the government has been trying to get this place as a national park for quite some time and they are not interested in giving it up. Interesting stuff. The building is also the old trading post and was built in the 1930s along with a saloon and dance hall. At the time, the Zuni Mountain Railroad was operating and the logging industry was in full swing. They kept their beer cold using ice from the Ice Cave. In 1946, it began operations as a tourist attraction. The trading post still deals in jewelry, pottery, rugs, and other art of local Indian Tribes. It also has ancient artifacts on display.
Most of these were found in the lava, and date back 800 to 1200 years.
Out the door and follow the signs. We are following the Volcano Trail first. Along the way, we see tree holes that were formed as the lava from Bandera Volcano began to flow into the surrounding area. Geologists and Biologists tell us that the flora and fauna of the time was essentially the same as they are today. This tree hole was formed as the lava flowed around a tree that existed here (Douglas Fir or Ponderosa Pine) and solidified quickly around it. The tree itself burned up, leaving the hole as you see it today.
We are ready to trek!!!
Some one is in a hurry - the rest of us? Not so much.
Apparently, this is a good area to spot wildlife, but we are unsuccessful.
Cool tree. No story.
Below is the beginning of the lava tube system. That is the large canyon that snakes out from the crater. This section of lava flow illustrates how violent this eruption must have been. Early sheepherders called this area "devils playground." The lava is very sharp, jagged, and makes good shelter for rattlesnakes.
Bandera is the largest volcano in the region. Ten thousand years ago there were two eruptions: first the cinder cone developed, then a massive lava flow broke out this side. The molten lava reaches temperatures above 2,000 degrees. Bandera's lava flow is nearly 23 miles long. At the end of the eruption, the lava suddenly fell back down the main vent making the bottom of the cone deeper than the outside lava flow. This crater is nearly 1400 feet wide at the top and roughly 800 deep. The elevation at lookout point (where I am) is 8,036 feet. The elevation at the rim is 8,367 feet. Over time, erosion and gravity take their toll on the crater and it is slowing filling up as cinders and rocks fall down into it. This makes for a very fragile environment.
Another tree - okay, a short story. The trees growing in lava find it hard to establish deep roots. The results are that the trees grow to be twisted and gnarled.
Two additional types of lava are pahoehoe and is swirled, ropy looking. The other is Clinker and looks like plates stacked one upon another.
The circular stacks of lava seen here are ancient Pueblo ruins. If you look carefully you can see stacks of lava rocks forming a wall in front of the small cave. The cave is actually a surface tube. The insulating properties of the lava made for ideal shelter. Most of the artifacts that I showed earlier were found in this area during the 1940s and 1950s.
This is a section of collapsed lava tube. A lava tube is formed when the molten lava pours out of a volcano. The surface hardens, while below, the lava continues to flow. The porous lava acts as an excellent insulator and keeps the lava hot beneath the surface. This creates a pipeline of lava known as a lava tube. This is the Bandera lava tube. Its overall length is 17.5 miles and is considered to the the longest in North America. Most of the lava tube has collapsed, but there are caver here an there such as the one we are about to go into. On the other side of the tube, you will see two logs. Those made up one of the original ladders used to climb down into this cave.
Wow - the temperature drop is amazing and divine. This is a spot where pictures do not do justice. Just saying. As rain water and snow melt seep into this cave, the ice floor thickens. The floor of the ice is approximately 20 feet thick. The deepest ice is the oldest and dates back 3400 years. The green tint is caused by an Artic algae. The back wall was formed in the early days when ancient Indians and early settlers mined the ice. In 1946, ice removal was stopped. At that time the ice wall was nearly 12 feet high. Since then, the ice floor has risen relative to the back wall. The rate of ice accumulation varies with annual rainfall. The cause of original formation of ice 3400 years ago is not know for sure, but was most likely due to annual rainfall. However, perpetuation of the ice is due to a combination of existing conditions make a natural ice box: 20 feet of ice in a well insulated cave shaped to trap frigid air. The Pueblos called this Winter Lake.
The greens and oranges on the lava lichen and moss. The moss here is an Alpine Moss and is very rare this far south. The scaly looking green and orange growth is lichen.
On the road again - just can't wait to get on the road again. Going a little crazy here. We make it to Albuquerque and I'm craving Pho, so Vietnamese it is for lunch. Viet's Pho and I have to say - it was sublime.
Still driving and Hello Texas. One would think we were almost home, but, nay. Texas is a pretty dang big state, for those of you who haven't been here.
Do you know where we are?
Well, that's it for today --- we have a lovely AirBNB in Amarillo.
13th - Well, dang. This is where we part with Sherri as she makes her way back to San Antonio. It's been grand spending time with her and she will be missed.
We must do an obligatory Buc-ee's stop.
Gas and snacks are procured and we have a ton of driving still ahead of us.
I finish first and just take a moment of fresh air and thought collecting. It's nice to to be driving.
Wichita Falls comes up and we are planning on stopping at Lucy Park, but I can see from the interstate that the falls are not flowing. No idea why, but not stopping to find out.
Continuing on to Weatherford, we stop for lunch. It's a crazy roundabout way of getting there, but we finally find the place. McAlister's Deli for the win. I had planned on a stop at the Floating Walkway, but everyone is just ready to be home.
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