After our hike at La Pine State Park, we drove west back out to US 97, then north on 97 for about six miles, then east to a third portion of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The pavement ended shortly after we got off the highway. Soon, we encountered an area were active logging was going on in the Deschutes National Forest. There were signs warning us of trees falling and of a controlled burn.
The dirt road got progressively narrower, bumpier and Dustier, but after nine miles we arrived at the Lava Cast Forest. There is a one mile paved loop trail through the forest.
As the hot lava flowed into the area, it surrounded trees. As the trees burned, the steam cooled the lava and created tubes that were cast in the shape of the former trees.
We relearned about the two types of lava, A'a and Pahoehoe. Virtually all of the lava flow here was A'a.
We learned how the tree molds or casts were formed. The tubes were anywhere from one to three feet in diameter, extended down five to eight feet into the lava and in some cases had portions above ground. Towards the end of the trail, there were even some tubes that were horizontal.
We also learned about the twisted trees that manage to survive life on the lava beds, as well as the paintbrush and penstemon flowers.
And then we headed back to our hotel after some ten miles of walking - a very good day exploring the area.
The dirt road got progressively narrower, bumpier and Dustier, but after nine miles we arrived at the Lava Cast Forest. There is a one mile paved loop trail through the forest.
As the hot lava flowed into the area, it surrounded trees. As the trees burned, the steam cooled the lava and created tubes that were cast in the shape of the former trees.
We relearned about the two types of lava, A'a and Pahoehoe. Virtually all of the lava flow here was A'a.
We learned how the tree molds or casts were formed. The tubes were anywhere from one to three feet in diameter, extended down five to eight feet into the lava and in some cases had portions above ground. Towards the end of the trail, there were even some tubes that were horizontal.
We also learned about the twisted trees that manage to survive life on the lava beds, as well as the paintbrush and penstemon flowers.
And then we headed back to our hotel after some ten miles of walking - a very good day exploring the area.
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