Checking in from the high deserts of Idaho

[Boston]

pahoihoi is underwater lava or pillow lava if I remember

I specifically have some stuff for spelunking in lava tubes
very tough environment but also rewarding because of the protected nature of the environment were "sky lights" may provide enough light to support micro-climates within the darkness

[hoytedow]

Right. It is smooth. The rough stuff is a-a- because that is what you will utter if you sit on it.

[Boston]

I remember now
we had a guide take us caving in the islands years ago and it was spectacular

[Dr Kung Pao]

Originally Posted by Boston

organ pipe national forest and squaro national forest
also I guess the whole senoran desert area
also have these not so ancient lava flows with tubes everywhere
I hung in the chericowa mountain range for two months just exploring about ten years ago

dam there buddy
you just kicked off what just might be my next big vacation spot

thing is you never know what your getting into going into a lava tube
the lava is razor sharp and you really need the right equipment

Sounds Like I have some exploring to do myself! You're right about the equipment etc however. Its not a casual environment. I think that works to preservations advantage in these situations. Keeps the faint at heart on the road or in the picnic grounds LOL.

[Boston]

it does but frankly although the tubes are difficult they are seldom life threatening like a deep rock cave can be
they do however eat up equipment with all the sharp edges
shoes particularly

I would also strongly recommend Wapatki state park near sunset crater in Arizona as a spectacular area to explore

if you go to the lamaki ruins parking lot and head directly away from the ruins across the desert on foot ( dont get lost ) and go in a straight line till you hit a canyon the walls of that canyon are lined with un-pilfered cliff dwellings
do not take anything
but you will find some amazing stuff left by the ancestors

there are graineries and summer shelters as well as some communal dwellings up under the cliffs

leave no trace but just build a rock cairn by where you climb down into the canyon to mark were to climb back out
also helps to turn around leaving the parking lot and find some tall topographical mark you can key on for the return journey

Topo map and compass might help to

you will find lots of trash heaps bellow the dwellings with pottery in them
also the dwellings are full of drifting volcanic ash
but digging through it is Strictly Vorboten
you will need a hiking permit
its a day hike so bring supplies
hiking in this area is limited and my native American status might have helped me get a permit
I had to fill out a lot of forms and almost was required to hire a park guide to enter this area

not sure how experienced you are hiking in the dessert but it does take some preparation if you want to make the best of it

luck favors the prepared

cheers
B

and thanks for the pictures

[hoytedow]

Mesa Verde is definitely worth a visit.

[Boston]

Acoma pueblo as well

but once again my native status probably helped me out there some
tourists are only allowed to take a bus and must stay together
I was able to wander around and was invited to stay for the evening dinner ceremony
basically someone I was talking to invited me to dinner

[Dr Kung Pao]

I've never been to Arizona but have always thought that I would some day. The dry heat calls to my desert background. Those dwellings sound amazing, and like they should be protected. I'm surprised they aren't. We sure do have some pretty incredible treasures out on the left hand side of this country.

Being invited by someone who was from there to stay and have dinner and share time would be such an honor! That must have been pretty special.

[Boston]

there are only a few hundred full time residents of the mesa and I was very honored to have been able to stay after sun down. Traditionally no one outside the tribal people can be on the mesa after dark so yes it was a rare privilege. The village is the oldest continually inhabited place in north America and the people are very traditional, leery of outsiders and very aware of there special place in the world. I got very lucky.

[Dr Kung Pao]

lucky with a little twist of karma from the universe maybe. I'm a big believer in respect being rewarded .

[Boston]

my experience has been somewhat the opposite

no good deed goes unpunished

cheers
B