Coconino National Forest's other Lava Tube
Cave.
The coordinates stated are for a Lava Tube Cave in
the Coconino National forest. According to Wikipedia, "Lava tubes
are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface
of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption. They can
be actively draining lava from a source, or can be extinct, meaning
the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long,
cave-like channel."
This tube is in
the San
Francisco Volcanic Field and was likely caused by lava flowing
from the Humphreys
Peak at one time or another. There are probably hundreds of
these tubes around the peaks but they are unknown because the
surface of the tube has not crashed in as this one has. The tube is
1/2 mile long and cold. Please bring warm clothing (even in summer)
and plenty of flashlights or headlamps with extra batteries. If you
have a bike helmet to wear that would be advisable as well so that
you don't bump your head on any overlying rocks.
Please treat the area with respect and carry out
all trash.
Directions:
From Flagstaff City hall (corner of RTE 66 and Hwy
180) travel up Highway 180 for roughly 27 miles (milepost
241.9).
On
your left an unpaved forest road takes off into the forest. This is
FR 9002H. Please remember to close the gate behind you as you enter
the area.
You
will follow this road 1.9 miles and then take a left. The Slate
Lake Lava Cave lies just .2 miles from this juncture. I will post
waypoints to make it a little easier.
To log this
EarthCache:
To receive credit
for this Earthcache you must send me a separate email with the
answer to these questions. In the email please post the title of
the Earthcache you will be logging. Please do not post the answers
here.
- To complete
this Earthcache one must give a general size for the entrance hole
to the lava tube.
- How many square
feet is the entrance?
- Why do you
think it is so cold?
- What is just
inside the entrance?
Please do not
post your answers here but email them to the owner. Any and all
pictures added to this site are appreciated. Please have fun and
enjoy yourselves. As always be prepared for the
unexpected.
Please practice
leave no trace guidelines while searching for this cache. They are
listed below.
Leave
No Trace Techniques for
Geocaching
The essentials of responsible
geocaching:
-
Never bury caches.
-
Never leave food items in a cache.
-
Replace rocks & other natural objects lifted during a
search.
-
Find routes that minimize impact.
-
Leave places looking as if the seekers had never been
there.
Enjoy this Earthcache and have fun.
To find more Earthcaches in your area follow the
link below.
