Lava Cast Forest, Pumice Fields, and Smoke

July 5 - 16, 2025

Once over the Fourth of July funk, we drove to another section of the Newberry National Volcanic  Monument, the Lava Cast Forest. It is more accurately a lava mold forest. The lava that flowed through the northwest rift of Newberry Volcano 6000 years ago flowed through a forest and solidified around the trees. As the trees burned out they left behind molds of themselves.

Paintbrush

Pumice

Ponderosa Pine Bark

Pinedrops

Trees in harsh environments twist to ensre water gets to all of it

Twin tree molds

Cast of a tree on its side

Newberry volcano caldera in the background with the northwest rift flow

Never tire of viewing these mountains

Textures

Back at work we staffed the visitor center and roved the trails, answering questions, giving trail guidance and picking up trash

Paulina Lake and the Peak

Paulina Lake abuts an older obsidian flow

Britton and Stephne were away for a few days and I had the privilege of checking in on their cat Lester - although I'm not sure who was checking on who - I felt I was being watched while in our camper

The Painbrh are blloming on Paulina Peak

We were invited to tag along on University of Oregon's volcanologist  Danielle McKay's field study class for the day.

Love how the lava folded onto itself

East Lake osprey

After the class Matthew and I kayaked east lake past the slide on the side of the central pumice cone

Part of the northwes riff

Took a ride up the dirt road that is our evacuation route should there be a fire up here. This pumice field outside of the monument was our destination, since we could legally collect pumice here.

A volcanic bomb - shot out of an eruption

More kayaking - the snow is almost totally gone from the caldera

Unfortunately, the large Cram fire north of us produced a lot of smoke our way. We drove up to the peak to see what we could - it wasn't much.

the lower photo is what we should be seeing in the one above it

Matthew in his element, testing to see which rocks float with a young visitor

Testing the gas emissions from one of the hot springs on East Lake

37th wedding anniversary celebration - East Lake Resort's incredible mixed berry cobbler - we ate two

Obsidian, Pumice, and Kayaking

 June 27 - July 4

Drove to Glass Buttes, about 2 hours east of us, to go hunt for legally obtained obsidian. 

It was so nice to run into these folks who had just finished doing some trail maintenance - the photo is poor, but the flag is a large trans-inclusive flag

We are indeed in the high desert

Hunting for obsidian

Seeing the mountains never gets old - L-R Three Finger Jack, Mt Bachelor, South and Middle Sisters

Some of the haul

Got back in time to attend the stargazing program with our ranger, Emily, at East Lake 

It was finally warm enough on Sunday to paddle 2 miles across Paulina Lake to the hot springs. It was our first time paddling in an active volcano!

Colorful lichen

Kind of felt like Goldilocks, some were too hot, but we found one that was just right

Since we have access to an oven in the kitchen of the visitor center (Ranger family's once lived here) Matthew rehydrated his sourdough starter - it likes it up here. He's back to making bread and gifting it to folks we work with  

Sunset from the scenic overlook

Our 4 day work week consists of staffing the visitor center, selling passes and items in the gift shop, and "roving" (being present at sites and on trails) to be a presence, answer questions, pick up trash, etc.

View from the bottom of Paulina Creek Falls

One day Emily, Stephne, and I made a trip outside the Monument boundaries to collect pumice for the cards that we sell that have a small piece of pumice, obsidian, and cinder. This was our view of another small crater on the back side of the caldera.

Cool roots on pumice

We had a quiet Fourth, wasn't in the mood for celebrating, so being up here was perfect. Stephne and Britton's son and his wife were up to visit so we had a nice evening around the campfire with them. We are so fortunate to be here.