Mt. St. Helens Above Ground, viewpoint from the South
Ape Cave is a 2,00 year old lava tube that was formed by a basalt lava flow from a vent on the southern flank of Mt. St. Helens. From Mt. Rainier, we drove South to Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Coming from the North, the visibility was very poor because of fogs and very clouds. We did not have a glimpse of Mt. St. Helens at all even at their view points from the North and West side of Mt. St. Helens.
@ the mouth of Ape Cave Lava Tube, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic National Monument
If above ground was all foggy, we went below ground then at Ape Cave. Ape Cave Lava Tube is in the south side of Mt. St. Helens. It is the longest lava tube (12,810 ft ) in the contiguous US. Last summer 2009, we also hiked in a similar lava tube cave in California, which is Subway Cave near Lassen Volcanic National Park.
close to the entrance of Ape Cave
Exploring Ape Cave
It was not only dark inside Ape Cave, but it was also chilly and breezy, with a temperature averaging 42 degrees Fahrenheit ( 5.5 degree Celsius). We went down several flight of stairs inside the cave.
After Ape Cave, we continued our journey South to Columbia River Gorge. Surprisingly, if we did not get a glimpse of Mt. St. Helens at the North and West side, we finally got a glimpse of Mt. St. Helens when we were further South.
Mt. St. Helens from the South
It was a big treat for us to be able to see a day as clear as this, when the past 2 days where gloomy for us. And if felt so great to be able to see what is underneath Mt. St. Helens as well at Ape Cave Lava Tube.
♥♥
Beth, my goodness, Ape Cave Lava tube is one of the nicest caves I've seen so far..not to mention, it was beautifully captured. Your photos says it all! I am very much encouraged to see it! You are really to have had the chance to explore these places. I would love to join you in your adventures someday.
ReplyDeleteI have not been into any caves...like 15 years already. :(
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Betchai. Did you just visit there? Guess you had to have your cold weather gear with temperatures that cold in the caves!!!
ReplyDeleteAt 65, I've done it! My poetry book - Life's Journey by Carmen Henesy - is out on Amazon!
( Poems about the things that have been important to me in my journey through life, some humorous, some sad, some that may have meaning to you as well )
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Journey-1-Carmen-Henesy/dp/1451547366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274652997&sr=1-1
Awesome! Such beautiful scenes. I can't wait for the day I get to go and explore.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to be able to go "high" and "low".
ReplyDeleteAn adventure inside a cave must be real fun.
Fascinating! 12000 feet cave!! can some one go all that way :)
ReplyDeleteReminda me Jules Verne's 'The journey to the centre of the earth'.
What an adventure, Betchai! You are my woman warrior, exploring every nook of this earth.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are always amazing and fantastic.
Hi Betchai, Thank you for sharing Ape Cave Lava Tube. It is amazing and beautiful and you sure are adventurous!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to any cave expedition, and your photos make me want to do this adventure. It must by eerily cold crossing all the steps and stones. How fun!
ReplyDeleteBetchai... I love the cave with stairs photo... the stairs was framed artistically. I just don't know if I can go down the cave. I have claustrophobia.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see that!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome place! Where we lived back in NY they had under ground caves that we used to visit on field trips in school. I can still picture them in my head. They have underground water caves here in FL that you can dive in. I have never attempted that.
ReplyDeleteawesome photos. I love the first shot. The snow covered mountain looks so stunning and breathtaking. The cave looks interesting too.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to visit an active volcanic site with lava. Not one spewing out lava though.
ReplyDeleteCaving looks like so much fun and I want to wear one of those helmets with a light on top. :)
ReplyDeleteAMAZING! You keep putting new and beautiful places on my list of places to visit!! Thank you for all the beauty you show!
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit that cave! : )
ReplyDeleteWhat a wondrous place to explore and the shot of the mouth of the cave is so cool.
ReplyDeleteThat is so fascinating. What an exciting hike.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like in "Journey to the center of the earth" movie. Great adventure betchai :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible journey! You did a fantastic job on planning your vacation, and your photos are always breathless!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of the mountains. The cave looks cool, thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteyou took me back to my holidays last year when I visited caves in Borneo and New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteWow - those pictures are amazing!! Just like I am there, but warmer. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt would be incredibly fun to go into a cave like this. And I like the name, Ape Cave.
ReplyDeletesama ako sa adventures with you and Tes!!! she said it all for me... btw, superlove the 2nd photo. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Betchai! I wante to call you last Sunday but it was too late already when I thought of it like 10:30. You migt be sleeping already.
ReplyDeleteAnyway it's nice to see Mt St Helens up close through your photos. I watched a news regarding the historic eruption of this volcano.
Would that be wonderful to fly! It sounds exciting and adventurous too..
ReplyDeleteSeems it's a wonderful place. Mt. St. Helens looks gorgeous in your pics. Like your blog and photography. Keep it up!
ReplyDeletewow! you really are wonderwoman! love the first and last photos....of course you know why:)
ReplyDeleteNearly everyone commenting on the "Apocalypse Island" program on the History Channel agrees that the rock formations on Robinson Crusoe Island are natural volcanic outcroppings, not the Mayan "monuments" Jim Turner claimed they are.
ReplyDelete