ELLE A VINGT-QUATRE ANS!

The sizzling sun turned the tent into a sauna. Getting up early was the only option. Kaitlynn and I hiked back to the parking lot. We jumped into her car and drove to the closest town of Arco. This tiny town's claim to fame is that it was the first city powered by atomic energy. It did not take long to find our breakfast destination, Pickle's Place. My morning energy was two over-easy eggs, hash browns with gravy, toast, a pickle, and some coffee. It was a magnificent morning meal. We drove the twenty-five miles back to the preserve. The goal for the day was to walk every trail and see every sight that this lovely lava monument had to offer.

We started with the North Crater Trail. As indicated by the title, we hiked along some phenomenal craters. Losing your footing would result in quite a painful tumble and an even longer climb out. This trail took us to the spectacular spatter cones. These miniature volcanoes were a seriously stunning sight. We hiked back to the car and drove to our next spectacle. This all-black sandy structure was named Inferno Cone, which just sounds dangerous. We walked atop this towering sandcastle of a mountain and earned the most spectacular view. Miles of cracking lava fields led to a marvelous mountainous backdrop. We quickly walked through the Devil's Orchard. This was a short loop with lava landscapes for the people not so equipped for the more difficult trails. 

We were both tired from hiking and needed to relax for a bit. We left the preserve and drove to the hot spring that I discovered yesterday. This spring must be magical. The people who occupied the warm water were high school sweethearts from Iowa. Kaitlynn was wearing Hawkeye shorts, and it did not take long for us to find this common bond. What a freaking small world. We chatted and rested our bodies in the water for a while. Once our soak was finished, we returned to Craters of the Moon. We had one more trail to complete, The Tree Molds Trails. This trail was unquestionable my favorite of the day. We were walking alongside the lava fields, and it was legendary. I felt like there was about to be an epic Jedi duel. It was definitely a good final boss fight spot. Nerdy references aside, it was exceptional. 

We adventured all the way back to our camp spot. It was definitely time for dinner. We ate avocados seasoned with salt and pepper, hummus, artichoke dip, black olives, and cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices. The rest of the evening was spent fireside. We drank alcoholic beverages and chatted about the beauty of nature. The shining star signaled that it was time to go to sleep. These stars were stunning, and it was the perfect end to a perfect day.