Mississippi River Trip: Sunset Crater

We left the Grand Canyon reluctantly.  After more than a month of camping we can break down camp in about 15 minutes when we're ready to move.  We took about two hours to pack up at the South Rim, and some part of me thinks that it's because we weren't ready to leave such a beautiful place.


We headed south towards Flagstaff, planning to catch Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument on the way to wherever we were going - we still hadn't completely decided yet.  Sunset Crater is the result of a volcanic episode about 1200 years ago that changed the landscape and caused most of the Native American inhabitants to move on.  The Visitor Center was great, but the park leaves a lot to be desired.

 The main crater is closed because, according to the sign, vandals and people who won't stay on the trail are damaging it beyond repair.  The result is that the park has only two hikes - really walks given the length (1/2 mile and 1/4 mile).  We did both, and were both fascinated by the Lava Flow trail.  It's amazing to think that all of that cool pumice was once flowing rock heated to more than 1400 degrees.  We had a couple of nice walks despite the heat, but both of us were a little disappointed overall.

After Meteor Crater we hit Flagstaff to replenish our food supplies and to camp.  We found a quiet spot in Sitgreaves National Forest.  The campsite was in a small clearing surrounded by stately pine trees and bordered by a National Forest grazing area for cattle.    As we finished dinner and the sun went down, the cattle in the grazing are started going nuts!  Mooing and hallooing and doing what I can only describe as screaming.  It was wild to hear, and we managed to catch a little of it on video.

Horned Toad

One sounded particularly bad - I heard thrashing and branches breaking.  I went to investigate (with larisa worried, but behind me in spirit) but couldn't find anything.  My guess is that it managed to get caught in some of the downed timber there.  While I was investigating I heard more thrashing and lots of crackling branches right before the noise stopped.  Perhaps the cow got free.  I couldn't find anything in the morning either, so I don't really know.  Next stop:  Slide Rock!!