Lava Cave

 Since it is Jordan's last weekend before his school is going to get ULTRA busy we decided to take a break and do something fun.  Our friends told us about a lava cave a few miles out of town so we decided to check it out.  It was a beautiful drive and it was fun to get to have a chance to go play in the woods! When we finally found the parking lot for the cave it took a while to find the cave.  When you look at it all you see is a bunch of rocks.  You honestly have to get all the way down before you can find the opening. The cave is about a mile long and TOTALLY dark.  We both had our headlamps and a spare flashlight and it was still hard to get through without a few almost rolled ankles (thanks for the good hiking boots Dean!!!) and scrapes and bruises. It was a great day and we both are excited to see and do more fun activities in this area.

It is so strange to think this is the opening to a mile long cave.  It was fun to watch everyone try to figure out how to get down into this cave.  We saw a few people that said that they didn't think they could do the hike and they hadn't even made it into the cave yet. 



This is the last look at sunlight for a mile!

There is a TON of rock hopping at the beginning... again, thanks for the boots Dean!

I was playing with the camera to see how well it would take pictures in the dark.  I think it did a great job!

Jord thought we needed to crawl through this part when we could have taken the other tunnel and saved our hands and knees.  He always needs just a little more "adventure" doesn't he?

We had read up on the cave and everything talked about the rock "icicles" hanging from the ceiling.  This is the closest we saw to icicles... we where not that impressed but we did chuckle.

The ceilings kept dropping and going back up through the entire cave.

Low ceiling

High ceiling

Jord puttin' out the vibe!!!



I saw this rock and I though "What would Nat do?"




Jord loves to lead the way



The cave got HUGE

The cave got small

and it got HUGE again

The end of the cave. We turned off our light just to sit in the dark because it isn't everyday that you are a mile from an opening in a cave.  It was kind of creepy.  Jord said it best when he said the dark felt thick.  I don't know if that makes sense unless you are there.

Headed back to the opening

YAY!!  It was nice to see the sun but it was so bright and warm out there.

My big strong hubby got me out of there safe and sound

We just thought the trail was really pretty

This way to the cave

BEAUTIFUL drive

We love all the trees!

SEE!! So pretty!