). The cinder cone is an especially volcanic part of the park, and also featured some really cute birds at the lake.
Our first view of the cinder cone
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Making our way up - it was really surprisingly steep! And at altitude.
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Our first view of the cinder cone
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Making our way up - it was really surprisingly steep! And at altitude.
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Hiking up the cinder cone
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At the top of the cinder cone is a huge crater, with some trees beginning to grow in parts of it
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Hiking up the cinder cone
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At the top of the cinder cone is a huge crater, with some trees beginning to grow in parts of it
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Looking from the top of the cinder cone, the view was primarily a smoky wasteland - fitting for being on the top of a volcano
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Looking from the top of the cinder cone, the view was primarily a smoky wasteland - fitting for being on the top of a volcano
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The crater from its other side. The two specks are brave souls taking the steep, gravelly path all the way down to the bottom of the crater.
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Making our way down the steep path on the backside. Down was a lot more pleasant than up.
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The crater from its other side. The two specks are brave souls taking the steep, gravelly path all the way down to the bottom of the crater.
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Making our way down the steep path on the backside. Down was a lot more pleasant than up.
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The cinder cone from its base. The fact that the sides are so smooth makes it really hard to appreciate its large scale.
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Some really beautiful colors in the rocks behind the cinder cone
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Beautiful colors!
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The cinder cone from its base. The fact that the sides are so smooth makes it really hard to appreciate its large scale.
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Some really beautiful colors in the rocks behind the cinder cone
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Beautiful colors!
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A large plain of volcanic gravel
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A pair of chipmunks cuddling - it was really adorable
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A large plain of volcanic gravel
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A pair of chipmunks cuddling - it was really adorable
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A Brown Creeper making his way up the tree
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A Red-breasted Nuthatch
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A Brown Creeper making his way up the tree
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A Red-breasted Nuthatch
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While we were eating lunch next to Butte Lake, a mixed flock of small birds flew over and all started drinking from the lake at the same time. It was really cool to watch!
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Dark-eyed Juncos part of the lunch drink crew
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While we were eating lunch next to Butte Lake, a mixed flock of small birds flew over and all started drinking from the lake at the same time. It was really cool to watch!
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Dark-eyed Juncos part of the lunch drink crew
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Bath time for this Junco
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A Mountain Chickadee
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Bath time for this Junco
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A Mountain Chickadee
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Down to the water
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Bath time!
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A small pod of Common Mergansers on the lake
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Down to the water
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Bath time!
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A small pod of Common Mergansers on the lake
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On the drive home: the pollution in the central valley was worse than Beijing, and back home on the peninsula it was worse yet! Gross!
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On the drive home: the pollution in the central valley was worse than Beijing, and back home on the peninsula it was worse yet! Gross!
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