Volcanoes and Vicious Thunderstorms!

Leaving Carlsbad, NM heading to Capulin Volcano is a beautiful drive with a dramatic change in scenery. We ended our journey 3 miles south of the volcano at Capulin RV Park which is a unique park run by a teenager no older than 14 years old.  With blonde hair and an angelic round face he met us as we pulled into the driveway and led us immediately to a spot sandwiched between many other RVs.  The other campers all appeared to be grandparents with grandchildren and small dogs.  After setting up the RV, we headed to the office to pay the young proprietor.  He gave us advice on visiting the volcano and thanked us for our business.

The evening was very pleasant as we watched a distant thunderstorm move closer.  Eventually the RVs began to shake, the lights began to flicker and the ran began to fall harder and harder until it was so loud we could no longer hear the TV show we were watching. The pounding hail began and we were all glued to the windows watching the vicious storm thankful that we weren't driving in it this time.  Finally the storm slowly subsided to a gentle and relaxing trickle. Randy's newly superstitious beliefs began to surface again.

Capulin Volcano exploded into existence 60,0000 years ago.  It is the best example of an extinct cinder cone volcanoes in North America. The volcano rises over 1300 feet above the surrounding plains to 8,182 feet.  The cone is mostly loose cinders, ash and other rock debris formed  by gaseous lava that cooled quickly.

Capulin volcano is extinct and will never erupt again!  It is possible though that a new cinder cone volcano could form elsewhere in the region, possibly during our lifetime, although unlikely.

Driving almost 7 hours to northeast NM from Carlsbad our only goal was to visit Capulin Volcano and take the path down into the crater.  Arriving at the Capulin Volcano Visitor Center at 8:30 we found that due to the severe evening thunderstorm there had been a mudslide on the road to the top of the volcano and the road would be closed until they could clean it up.  We passed the time by watching videos in the visitors center, looking at the exhibits and walking the hiking trails.  You can imagine what Randy is thinking regarding the situation!  

We finally made it to the top of the volcano around 12:30.  It was worth the wait!