Sunset Delights

Sunset Crater Volcano, Arizona

 

We had a great day just poking around within a 10 mile radius. Sunset Crater is beautiful. The San Francisco Mountains are to our east and The Painted Desert in the West.

We had a picnic lunch in The Painted Desert, then we hiked the lava trail. That is the same trail Dave and I hiked a few years ago. Libby was fascinated at the dramatic nature we encountered at every step.

Tonight, we will try for Jacob Lake Cmpground, north of The Grand Canyon. (Both of us have seen Grand Canyon before, so we'll avoid the crowds. ).

 

The picture shows The San Francisco Mountains. Aren't they beautiful with the snow on top? The meadow is at 7000 feet and the peaks at 12000 feet. Compare that to Mount Mansfield seen from Vermont. The lake is at 100 feet and the peak at 5000 feet.

Actually those mountains are the ring around a caldera. Visualize a single 20000 foot cone originally, which then collapsed Mount Saint Helen's style. Wow, what an event. There are two other calderas near by. What a fantastic place!