Capulin Volcano National Monument

Wednesday, September 17

Since we had planned to be in Los Alamos, NM by noon today, we decided we better get up early so we could have everything packed to leave and be at the volcano by 8am. 

The drive to the top of the volcano edge was beautiful!

We stopped in the middle of the road to take this picture on the way up.

This was a unique dead tree Tic got a picture of on the way up.

This sign was at the edge of the parking lot.  We decided take the crater rim hike and not down the vent trail.  We were trying to be on the road by 9:30 am so had to make a choice.

We read a sign that told us the "mounds" are created when the lava flows underground and starts for the surface but does not explode.

The little volcano you see on the left side is called "Baby Capulin".  This mound did explode.

Tic took this picture of a ranch in the distance.  This is zoomed in as much as the camera would.

These deer are in the vent.  Again Tic zoomed in.

We are only part way to the top of the rim and this is the parking lot with Baby Capulin in the background.

Another unique tree creating an interesting view.

This is a view of the bottom of the vent from the top of the rim.

These deer are just off the floor of the vent.  Tic spotted them and was able to get a picture of all 7 in one picture.

On the way down from the top of the rim were these trees with Baby Capulin in the background.
Then we rounded a corner and..............

this doe was right there.  She froze in place long enough for Tic to get a picture.  As you can tell we are almost back to the parking lot.

The next two pictures are panoramic pictures from the top of the rim.

We were really glad we took the time to see this volcano.  We did not leave the parking lot until 10am.  Needless to say we would not make our goal of arriving in Los Alamos, NM by noon.