On our second day at Lava Beds National Monument, we visited the Modoc Indian Pictographs at the Symbol Bridge lava tube and also checked out the Fleener Chimneys, a spatter cone on the north side of the park.
After climbing the steep trail to Schonshin Butte, it was a relief to hike along a flat trail across a lava bed. Symbol Bridge was an easy hike. Although technically a “cave” created by a lava tube, it wasn’t very deep at all, and the exciting part of it was close to the entrance.
We descended a short distance into the cave where the roof had collapsed long ago. There was a short loop trail across the blocky chunks of lava rock on the floor which led us past the pictographs. I don’t claim to be very knowledgeable when it comes to native artifacts, but they were interesting just the same. I always wonder about the conclusions that archeologists draw from these pictographs, about religions and culture, and I admit that I often wonder whether these types of drawings might have simply been the product of a lone artist living a solitary existence, such that any “meaning” may have died with the creator. But, like I said, I’m not an expert. No, not at all. A cynic, maybe.
We hiked back to the car, and began heading north. Our goal for the day was Crater Lake National Park, across the Oregon border. Along the way, we noticed a sign for the Fleener Chimneys. We immediately decided to check them out. And maybe eat a bit of lunch while we were at it. There were a few picnic tables not far from the parking area, so Vicki got out some food. We were the only ones there, mid-week in mid-June, and it was a fine day to take a lunch break. Crater Lake could wait.
While Vicki whipped up some lunch, I decided to climb the short trail to the chimneys. These were the only examples of volcanic chimneys in the park. They are considered to be Spatter Volcanos, meaning that lava shot into the air out of them, slowly building tall chimney-like tubes around the central vents. The other vents in the area (like Schonshin Butte) were considered to be Cinder Cones, which have a much different appearance, more like a classical volcano with a crater on top. Anyway, I liked these chimneys just fine, and it was cool to be able to look down into a hole that lava once blasted out of. I took a few photos, hiked back to the table, and ate my lunch while Vicki took a turn exploring the chimneys.
On the way north, we stopped at the Devil’s Homestead Overlook, a huge lava flow that came from the Medicine Lake Shield Volcano. It was quite vast. Supposedly, the Modoc Indian chief (named Captain Jack) and his band of warriors hid within this lava flow, down in the cracks and caves and lava tubes, during the Modoc War of 1872-3. What a trackless place in which to hide! They lost the war in the end, of course, which is sad, but it makes a good story now.
After that, it was time to leave Lava Beds National Monument. I felt like there was a lot more left to explore, and if I were a spelunker I would have stayed longer. It was a caver’s heaven. However, I’m not. But I do like volcanos.
For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page
For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page
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