Super interesting! I went to school in Aberdeen and we went on a field trip to Crystal Ice Cave. My friends and I did a lot of exploring around that area as teenagers. I agree with another commenter that Pillar Butte is a really cool spot. One of my coolest experiences was hiking out past Pillar Butte and exploring some lava tube caves my friend and his brother had found. They didn’t have rope, so we came back with the sketchiest collection of farm ropes that we used to drop about 15’ into a living room sized chamber. On the floor was a small skeleton, the bones were soft and squishy. Feeding into and out of that chamber were a couple of smooth tubes, and in the back of one of them was another full size skeleton of a bear. I’m guessing the mama bear went into the cave looking for a place to hibernate, fell over the edge and couldn’t get out. Honestly scares the crap out of me now thinking how that could’ve gone wrong and we could’ve ended up like the bears 😬
Thanks for these videos. I really appreciate them. I enjoy this topic very much. I lived in Boise for quite a while but I never had a chance to get to Craters of the Moon.
Great video!! Do you take requests? Pillar Butte is a super cool hike and visual of basalt flows. Drone footage would help tell the story. Would love to get a geologic explanation of Massacre Rocks and historic channels of the Snake River. Love the videos and your passion! Keep em coming!
Thanks for the kind words and suggestions. There are so many places to cover. I will add these to the list and try my best to make them happen. I've got a cool one in the works on ancient channels of the Snake River. Stay tuned and subscribe!
Is it possible to date the duration of the eruptive event(s)? How many days, weeks, months, years elapsed between the lowest (and oldest) lava layer and the upper most layer? Could an examination of the top portion of the lens of soil/non-volcantic material between layers that you showed give us an idea as to what time of year the layer immediately about it was formed?
We drove across the desert from Minidoka to Arco and we kept seeing these lava rocks that had white on them. Any idea why? Also, its my understanding that the lava flow that came through Pocatello (where we live) originated near Chesterfield. Was it a rift fissure or did it flow like a river all that way? Thank you so much for the time your investing in these videos!
The white coating you see on some basalt (and other rock types) is caliche, basically a coating of calcium carbonate similar to hard water deposits you might get on your plumbing fixture. These forms on the rocks where it is contact with the ground so usually we notice these on rocks that have been moved or flipped over (usually by man). And yes, the Portneuf lava flow that runs through Pocatello did originate from vents near Bancroft and Chesterfield. These lavas flowed about 50 miles following the course of the ancient Portneuf River to about Ross Park. The river was rerouted and now cuts along the margins of the basalt.
Super interesting! I went to school in Aberdeen and we went on a field trip to Crystal Ice Cave. My friends and I did a lot of exploring around that area as teenagers. I agree with another commenter that Pillar Butte is a really cool spot. One of my coolest experiences was hiking out past Pillar Butte and exploring some lava tube caves my friend and his brother had found. They didn’t have rope, so we came back with the sketchiest collection of farm ropes that we used to drop about 15’ into a living room sized chamber. On the floor was a small skeleton, the bones were soft and squishy. Feeding into and out of that chamber were a couple of smooth tubes, and in the back of one of them was another full size skeleton of a bear. I’m guessing the mama bear went into the cave looking for a place to hibernate, fell over the edge and couldn’t get out. Honestly scares the crap out of me now thinking how that could’ve gone wrong and we could’ve ended up like the bears 😬
What an amazing feature thank you Shawn
Thank you nice tour
I really enjoyed the video walk and your story telling deducing an earlier volcanic event. Very i interesting.
Great video, thanks for explaining the features!
Thanks for these videos. I really appreciate them. I enjoy this topic very much. I lived in Boise for quite a while but I never had a chance to get to Craters of the Moon.
You bet. Happy to do them. Please subscribe and look for more this summer.
Great video!! Do you take requests? Pillar Butte is a super cool hike and visual of basalt flows. Drone footage would help tell the story. Would love to get a geologic explanation of Massacre Rocks and historic channels of the Snake River. Love the videos and your passion! Keep em coming!
Thanks for the kind words and suggestions. There are so many places to cover. I will add these to the list and try my best to make them happen. I've got a cool one in the works on ancient channels of the Snake River. Stay tuned and subscribe!
@@shawnwillsey Really looking forward to the ancient channels of the Snake River!
@@shawnwillsey the route of the ancestral bear river would also be very interesting!
@@randallgd Here it is in case you missed it: ua-cam.com/video/YRs1UVRjGY0/v-deo.html
@@shawnwillsey thanks, somehow did miss that one.
Is it possible to date the duration of the eruptive event(s)? How many days, weeks, months, years elapsed between the lowest (and oldest) lava layer and the upper most layer? Could an examination of the top portion of the lens of soil/non-volcantic material between layers that you showed give us an idea as to what time of year the layer immediately about it was formed?
We drove across the desert from Minidoka to Arco and we kept seeing these lava rocks that had white on them. Any idea why? Also, its my understanding that the lava flow that came through Pocatello (where we live) originated near Chesterfield. Was it a rift fissure or did it flow like a river all that way? Thank you so much for the time your investing in these videos!
The white coating you see on some basalt (and other rock types) is caliche, basically a coating of calcium carbonate similar to hard water deposits you might get on your plumbing fixture. These forms on the rocks where it is contact with the ground so usually we notice these on rocks that have been moved or flipped over (usually by man). And yes, the Portneuf lava flow that runs through Pocatello did originate from vents near Bancroft and Chesterfield. These lavas flowed about 50 miles following the course of the ancient Portneuf River to about Ross Park. The river was rerouted and now cuts along the margins of the basalt.
@@shawnwillsey Wow interesting !
Learn how to jumar and REALLY go inside!
I am also a climbing guide so I do know how to jumar. Just didn't have my gear with me on this visit.