A volcano in New Mexico? Yep, that's right. Don't feel bad if you didn't know it was there. Neither did I, but when I saw it on the map I had to stop and take a look. It's actually a national park, and there's a small campground just outside the entrance. That turned out to be good for me since I got there 30 minutes before the park closed. Also, after driving up and over the Raton Pass, the steepest drive yet for me in Seeker, I was ready for a rest before climbing up a volcano. In fact, until this trip the highest climb I'd ever done was over Monteagle - less than half the size of Raton! Along the way there are signs for bear and elk crossings. Sorry I was too busy to take pix of those. But I digress, so let's get on to the volcano.
The park opened the next morning at 8:30 and I was there waiting for the doors to open.
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At the peak. That's Oklahoma
behind me. |
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| Looking down into the cone. |
I figured the earlier and cooler I started the better for the climbing. Of course there was also a geocache behind the counter which I took the time to stop and sign. Then it was a short drive up to the parking area near the top. From there it was just a one mile hike to get to the top of the cone. Of course it was steep in places but a wonderful accomplishment and a great view from the top. And of course there was another geocache on top at the point where you can look east and see Black Mesa in western Oklahoma.
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| Looking back up the trail toward the car and the volcano. |
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| This guy climbs up there all the time. No big deal to him. |
On the walk down there were views of the trail to the base of the cone which I decided not to do. By then it was already in the high 90s and I was ready to go down to the base and hike the 2 trails where the other geocaches were hidden. Kind of a whirlwind tour since I had to get back to the park and pull out by noon or stay another day, and well, there really was nothing else I wanted to do in that area of the state. But it was a fun tour while it lasted, and I can now add volcano climbing to my list of accomplishments.
A volcano in New Mexico? Yep, that's right. Don't feel bad if you didn't know it was there. Neither did I, but when I saw it on the map I had to stop and take a look. It's actually a national park, and there's a small campground just outside the entrance. That turned out to be good for me since I got there 30 minutes before the park closed. Also, after driving up and over the Raton Pass, the steepest drive yet for me in Seeker, I was ready for a rest before climbing up a volcano. In fact, until this trip the highest climb I'd ever done was over Monteagle - less than half the size of Raton! Along the way there are signs for bear and elk crossings. Sorry I was too busy to take pix of those. But I digress, so let's get on to the volcano.
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