"Where in North America?" --- Section IV

[Midwest Michael]

Geesh, I finally get two pictures that I knew the answers to (Land between Lakes and Arch), and you guys beat me to it.

I will say that I just stopped at the Elk/Bison range at LBL this spring and it was quite nice, although the Elk were off of the reserve for testing. Certainly worth the couple of buck to get in for a nice break from the road for an hour or so.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Great photos from the lava fields in Hawaii and very fast identification of the healing sanctuary at Chimayo!

Midwest Michael: Geesh, I finally get two pictures that I knew the answers to (Land between Lakes and Arch), and you guys beat me to it.

I know, these guys are getting awfully fast on the trigger! Good thing somebody is minding the store while I am off playing....

Midwest Michael: I will say that I just stopped at the Elk/Bison range at LBL this spring and it was quite nice, although the Elk were off of the reserve for testing.

I had no idea that one could find bison in Tennessee until I saw Gerald's photo!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

OK, you wise eagles -- what the heck is this? And where is it?

(Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

[Foy]

Close enough.

The lava is currently entering the ocean outside the boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Chain of Craters road ends a dozen miles or so from the entry point.

This is actually Hawaii state highway 130 coming from the other side of the lava entry. The original highway is under several feet of lava and at one time it did connect to Chain of Craters road. A bit further down the road is a parking area. From there you hike about 3/8 of a mile for this view.



It's even better at night, when the plume is lit by the lave underneath. You can also see occasional explosions that toss rocks and lava into the air. .

I should have recognized the apparent direction and angle of the sun implies approach from the north/northeast.

The only time I was there, November 2005, the Chain of Craters Rd reached the Pacific, turned north, ran just a couple of miles, if that, and ended where the lava had crossed some years before. The NPS had placed a restroom and a lightly developed parking area there. The vent to the ocean, however, was just a mile and a half to the north, if recollection serves. We ventured out around 1/4 mile, but the combination of tropical heat, sharp black rock, very challenging walking, and a tropical downpour every 15 minutes turned us back to our rental Jeep. I'm suprised the vent has moved so much farther north than that!

What an amazing place for a "reformed geologist" to visit! Thanks for sharing.

Foy

[Midwest Michael]

I had no idea that one could find bison in Tennessee until I saw Gerald's photo!

Mark

Well, if that photo is from the Elk and Bison Prairie at LBL, then the photo isn't of Tennessee, its Kentucky.

Although, I believe there are still Bison located in some portions of the Tennessee section of the park.

[Foy]

OK, you wise eagles -- what the heck is this? And where is it?

(Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

I dunno, how about Teapot Dome, Wyoming? My studies and recollection tell me the Teapot Dome is a large-scale geologic structure more readily observed on maps and airphotos than in outcrop. The terrain surrounding the outcrop, and the "controversial" hint still bring me to a SWAG that it's Teapot Dome.

Foy

[Kestrel]

I should have recognized the apparent direction and angle of the sun implies approach from the north/northeast.

The only time I was there, November 2005, the Chain of Craters Rd reached the Pacific, turned north, ran just a couple of miles, if that, and ended where the lava had crossed some years before. The NPS had placed a restroom and a lightly developed parking area there. The vent to the ocean, however, was just a mile and a half to the north, if recollection serves. We ventured out around 1/4 mile, but the combination of tropical heat, sharp black rock, very challenging walking, and a tropical downpour every 15 minutes turned us back to our rental Jeep. I'm suprised the vent has moved so much farther north than that!

What an amazing place for a "reformed geologist" to visit! Thanks for sharing.

Foy

It is an incredible place.

The Hawiian Volcano Observatory maps shows the current ocean entry point. You will also want to look at the images tab on that link. The June 30th collapse event happened while we were hiking on the Devastation trail about a mile away. The ash cloud was obscured by clouds and we thought the rumble was thunder. Didn't know what the noise really was until we got back home and looked at the web page.

[Foy]

I'd plumb forgotten about the USGS station and the frequent updates. That map shows as light tan the 2004-2007 flow field, and a spur way to the left is around 1.5 miles from the end of Chain of Craters Rd, just as I recalled.

The view as we neared the big drop-off, identifiable by the road's switchback on the map, was surreal and one of the more breathtaking sights I've ever seen. It was overcast, but high overcast. The steam plume was seemingly right at the end of the road, some 1,500' in elevation below and still several miles distant. My wife saw the plume first and said "there must be a forest fire ahead!"

I'm definitely going back to the Big Island, and will spend at least a week in and around Hawai'i Volcanoes NP, Hilo, and South Point, and another full day on the Mana Road, circumnavigating and ascending Mauna Kea (again). This time, I'll spend more time at the Observatory village at around 8,000', acclimating just a bit. I was fairly woozy at the summit (13,796') in 2005. Not the best of conditions to enjoy it or to drive back down. I rolled down the Jeep windows for a steady blast of cold air and oxygen on the way up and back.

Come to think of it, I might as well drive up and bag Mauna Loa's summit, too, as long as I'm completely violating my Jeep's rental contract on the Saddle Road, Mana Road, and Mauna Kea. Kids, don't do this at home!

Thanks again for sharing,

Foy

[Mark Sedenquist]

Well, if that photo is from the Elk and Bison Prairie at LBL, then the photo isn't of Tennessee, its Kentucky.

Yep, I mis-identified where along the Trace those two bison were -- according to Gerald's field report he found them just inside the Tennessee line....

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

The terrain surrounding the outcrop, and the "controversial" hint still bring me to a SWAG that it's Teapot Dome.
Foy

The location of this outcropping is very near the borders of two western states -- but one of them is NOT Wyoming... sorry. This photo was taken in Spring, 2005 -- the source of this controversy is back in the news this month....

Mark