Aden Crater

March 7, 2009 One week after out arrival in Las Cruces, New Mexico, we joined two local geologists on their annual hike through the "vent area" of Aden Crater, a preserved volcanic feature with a breadth of about a quarter mile.

I can't remember most of the volcanology terms, but in the photos you will see the following (click a pic to see a larger version): the truncated top of Aden Crater, our trusty guides, volcanic spatter, prickly pear cacti, lava flows where lava flowed out like rivers then solidified, a NASA lunar drill from 1970, and so on.

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A cave-like hold called a Femurole held the remains of a desiccated ground sloth that roamed the area about 11,000 years ago. The sloth now resides at the Smithsonian.

The full day hike was well worth it, not only for the experience of walking in a volcano, but for the stunning scenery (we were near mesmerized by that flaxen grass swaying in the breeze), panoramic views and the new-to-us contrast in landscape.

-P