The Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave in located on Ice Cave road, about 30 minutes from our campground. The trails are dog friendly BUT the paths are made up of mostly lava rock which(according to our pawrents) are not walkie friendly for our soft backyard paws. So unfortunately we had to stay home in Cece. We didn't mind too much, because it was also pretty warm outside, so we enjoyed a nice nap in the air conditioning while they were gone.
This is the Ice Cave registration building and trading post. It was built in the 1930s when logging was in full swing. In the 1940s, the Candelaria Family inherited the land and opened trails to the Ice Caves and the Bandera Volcano Crater to the public.
The pawrents walked a scenic 1/2 mile up a slight to medium incline to see the Volcano. The trail is lined with Ponderosa and Pinon pines, lava flows and beautiful views!
In this picture you can see part of the lava flow.
Bandera is the largest volcano in the area. It erupted approximately 10,000 years ago.
The lava flow from the volcano is over 23 miles long!
That volcano isn't going to erupt again, is it Rosy?
No worries Sunny, scientists say most of the New Mexico volcanoes are extinct and, although new volcanoes will probably form, it won't be during our(or the pawrents) lifetime.
There are 29 volcanoes in the area. The pawrents saw a few of them as they hiked back to the ice cave.
There are a lot of cracks, crevices and caverns in the area and in the olden days sheep herders nicknamed the area the '"Devil's Playground" because it was the perfect hiding place for rattlesnakes. Needless to say, Mama did NOT go off the path!
The pawrents knew they were getting close when they saw some leftover snow hiding in one of the caves....
It's hard to believe that in a state known for its heat and desert climate there is a cave that never gets above 31F(approx -1C), but here it is!
The floor of the ice is about 20 feet thick and the deepest, oldest ice dates back about 3,400 years. It isn't known how the original water got into the cave, but the waters from the Spring monsoons and snow melt add to the amount every year. There is also a small amount of melting and evaporation every year,
The current theory the owners had on why the ice doesn't melt is a combination of the heavy cold air, and the insulation properties of the lava.
Needless to say, the pawrents were very impressed by both the Bandera Volcano and the ice cave and noted that it was well worth the $14 admission cost.
Mama made a short video which gives you a better look at the Volcano, the beautiful views, along with the Ice Cave!
You can also watch it HERE, on our YouTube Channel
Show us your nature! It can be flowers, your current weather, a scene out of your window, or maybe a picture from a vacation, walk or other journey! Any kind of nature picture will do! If you don't see a link below, click HERE to go to our Hoppity Page.
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteA.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! Hugs and wags YAM-aunty xxx
That is super interesting. An ice cafe in New Mexico. Who knew!
ReplyDeleteWow - the ice cave is incredible! What a spot to hang out when it's one hundred degrees outside!
ReplyDeleteMom would be too scared to go into the cave but it looks pretty "cool" in there in more ways than one. There are a whole set of caves in St. Paul where famous old criminals hung out like John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Machine Gun Kelly, the Barker-Karpis Gang and even Al Capone. They do tours of the caves, but Mom is too scared to go. It's amazing how many interesting places there are to visit in the world if you take the time to look for them.
ReplyDeleteAmazing to think that ice caves and volcanoes exist that close together - fire and ice is a great saying but you don't expect to find it all together in New Mexico of all places. Nature is truly amazing in what it can achieve in the most unexpected of places.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting place to visit. We can't believe there is ice year round in that cave!
ReplyDeleteOMDs...Nieces Rosy and Sunny...what an amazing post about Grants, NM. I had no idea about the ice no melting especially with how hot it gets in that area. Please thank Mama and Daddy for walking around in the Hots to snap this shots.
ReplyDeleteLove Aunty C
Wow! Awesome nature shots ~ Rosy and Sunny ~ you are adorable ~ hugs,
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
It's fascinating, someday I'd love to drive out to New Mexico again and I'd certainly stop at this place. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting us see pictures of your marvelous adventure
ReplyDeleteWow! Those are stunning views! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteLulu: "Our Dada is over here saying something about somebody named Pat Benatar and how you come on like a flame then you turn the cold shoulder."
ReplyDeleteJava Bean: "We have no idea what he's talking about or what that has to do with fire and ice, as usual."