Capulin Volcano National Monument
I got into Capulin, NM fairly early in the day so I thought I'd check out the Volcano National Monument - it was a small but interesting place. From the top of the cinder cone, on a clear day, you can apparently see four states: Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. Not on the day I visited - it was cloudy and a storm was approaching. One can hike to the bottom of the cinder cone crater or take a one mile hike around the rim.
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| The approaching storrm! |
Looking at the clouds, I thought the rain was probably far enough out that I could hike the rim.
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| This shows both the rim and the crater. |
The rim trail held some surprises
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| Baby lizard - only a couple of inches in total length! |
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| On some years, bazillions of lady bugs descend on the park - this was one of those years. They were everywhere, on everything!! |
At some point about halfway thru the hike, I realized that getting wet probably wasn't my biggest problem . . . .
About halfway through the hike, I noticed that the thunder and lightning were getting alarmingly close - like within a mile! I stepped up my pace - I really, really did not want to be on an exposed ridge with lightning nearby!
As I hit the last steep descent back to the parking lot, it started to sprinkle. By the time I was driving back down the side of the cinder cone, it was pouring! It poured with accompanying lightning and thunder for several hours.
What a great day! When I'm driving straight through somewhere, I don't get much exercise - so it felt great to get a short hike in.
Thanks, Anne, for the review. Next summer my friends and I will be doing a Volksmarch convention in Billings, MT. On the way home, we plan to do the Volksmarch at Capulin Volcano National Monument. Ours will be a leg-stretcher stop as well. It looks like a pretty place.
ReplyDeleteShould be fun - the view from the rim was really nice.
DeleteShould be fun - the view from the rim was really nice.
Delete