Mammoth Caves - June 2014

Near the tiny alpine village of Duck Creek, Utah, there is a dormant volcano that spewed lava across the region a few thousand years ago - merely an eye's blink, in geological time. I researched the location on Google Maps, which is fairly useful although the last bit is off-road and somewhat seasonally muddy and/or totally inaccessible. There's a road to get there just a little to the east of the village, on the north side of Highway 14. Follow the signs carefully, as it may feel as though you went too far. However the case, note the map:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B033%2734.8%22N+112%C2%B036%2737.6%22W/@37.559667,-112.610458,680m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

See the gray areas? There are lava tubes to explore all over that area. Bring a headlamp, water, and be prepared for slippery clay mud that encrusts every stone on the floor, once you get into the heart of the cave. Water drips from the ceiling at odd intervals; and ice builds up along some areas even in summertime. Mind the bat droppings, which sprout a weird fungus. And do not disturb the bats.

Mammoth Ridge West, 37.584891, -112.579877

There's something almost comical about that uplift in the background. 37.552368, -112.595641