Day 58: Cave Junction, OR to Lava Beds National Monument, CA

After a beautiful sunrise, we packed up and headed off for gas and groceries before heading out of town.

We left blue skies at the state line and headed into rain in California. 

Our destination was Lava Beds National Monument. We got our cave permit, found a campsite and ate lunch, and headed to the visitors’ centre for some expert advice on which caves to explore.

Schonchin Butte.

Campsite 18 at Indian Wells Campground.

You can’t tell from the surface that there is anything special going on underground. But there is…

We spent the afternoon in cave exploration mode. There are over 800 lava tubes in this area! Unbelievable, eh? 

We started in Golden Dome Cave which has a layer of hydrophobic (water hating) bacteria on the ceiling and in the cave’s cracks that looks like sparkling gold. If I was an early explorer, I would have sworn we’d struck it rich. It was gorgeous - golden dome, indeed!

Seamus’ butt as he crawled through a tight passage.

Lavacicles as lava drips dried hanging from the ceiling.

We also checked out Sunshine Cave which had two skylight openings in the ceiling where parts of the tube had collapsed.

Posing in the skylight.

Upper and Lower Sentinel Cave connected - which was cool - but these caves were absolutely filled with pack rat poop - very ew! We were careful not to disturb the poop and sanitized our hands thoroughly afterwards for what that is worth. I hope we don’t get hantavirus!

Mushpot Cave was paved and lit with electric lights.

Indian Well Cave had no water or well anymore, but it did have rock scrambling which the boys enjoyed. I have come to the realization that rock scrambling is a young person’s game - I had flash backs to our trek a few days ago at Ape Cave - but both Ian and I made it through relatively easily today (albeit slowly) since the cave was a pretty short stretch.

Indian Well Cave had a big cave opening.

Cool lava formations on the ceiling.

Luckily the weather cleared up by dinner, allowing us to make hotdogs over the campfire. We are wiped out! Looking forward to bedtime.