2nd Area Hike
 For this one, we begin in a blaze of color. |
 This particular resident was incensed that we had interrupted his morning nap, and squaked until we were out of sight... |
 Interesting the forms that lava creates |
 Where we are headed. The last part was a real grunt! |
 20 years or so of guano collection. Birds nest here. Apparently. |
 And Freckles says, "That was boring, now what?" |
 Shapes, colors and forms are fascinating. |
 Up the slot to get on top. |
 Grassy knolls appear in the darndest areas. |
 Continuing on up through the slot. |
 On top. And a fascinating long-distance uplift. |
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 And this is what we have to get back down through. It proved to be way more of a challenge than I ever anticipated |
 Seems that this stuff is very hard volcanic ash, covered with a thin layer of gravel. No way to get traction, and it is considerably steeper than it looks. I got to the bottom of this one and found that it dropped off into the abyss. Maybe another one would be better. Ya think? |
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 As you can see, we did finally make it down, but not without a few false starts! |
 The drainages are so interesting. Water, then no water, then water, then no water..., well make up your mind! |
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 Almost out of the drainage at this point |
 And these are two very tired boys. "Can we go home now?" |