Hot Stuff in Flagstaff - Sunset Crater National Monument - 5/26/10

Let it be said before going further....Flagstaff is perfection in Arizona. After endless hours of Arizona desert, a gradual climb on I-40 brings you from 100+ degrees on the dusty plain, to 70 degrees at Flagstaff's summit, all within 15 minutes of driving. Sunset Crater National Monument is an oasis of beauty on ground that was once volatile.

A mere 900 years ago, this serene valley was shaped by this 1000-foot high volcano erupting for an entire year. Spewing ash, cinder and rivers of lava over the valley floor, the Native Americans that resided near the area named this a variation of "Sunset Crater" due to the magnificent colors the sky glowed for the near part of 365 days. What remains today is a stunning cinder cone, which is yet another reminder that the classic shape of what we think of when one mentions a volcano, isn't one at all. Everything we see is the buildup of lava, cinder, etc., along the sides to form the picture we now associate with volcanoes around the world.

The rocks and sand throughout the valley are completely black, and lava floes are present all throughout the monument's perimeter. Some floes are truly impressive, with igneous rocks forming a river of sorts. The one- mile Lava Flow Trail goes around the base of Sunset Crater along the best of the lava deposits. Sunset Crater itself is off limits for hiking <enter facetious "Oh Shoot!" here from the Cales> but the ground here is not easy at all to walk on. Shoes sink in the heavy black gravel every where you step, so hiking is far more arduous.

The visitor center, once again, is a relic. But upon exiting the car, Brooke took the deepest breath she had in a while and exclaimed "Wow......that is amazing. Do you smell that?", to which Matt answered, "What? Fresh Air?" It was true........the combination of the clean air and the fresh pine scent that accompanied it was almost foreign.

Activities, other than camping and hiking the valley floor, are sparse in Sunset Crater. And with the absence of a film or interpretative visitor center exhibits, Sunset Crater does not come to life as the site desperately should. But sometimes....Flagstaff's fresh air is worth its weight in gold.

FINAL RATING

7/10