This was my second attempt at this 9 mile (round trip) hike
across the Badlands of Hells half acre. The goal is the source of a
66 thousand acre Lava flow known as "the Vent".
ATTN! Be prepared with plenty of water, good hiking boots,
and protection from the sun. ATTN!
Park at N43 33.222 W112 26.522 I spent 7 hours and 3 liters of
water on this hike. Make sure you have enough daylight to finish
the hike or plan on camping out on the lava. I would not want to
hike the flow after dark.
This trek into the Lava flows of Southeast Idaho will find you
scrambling across broken rock, stepping over 3 foot wide 100 foot
deep cracks, and constantly on the lookout for the best route.
There are no trails here. The route is marked by 8 foot poles
jutting out of the rock about every 75 yards. You'll traverse vast
lava lakes, and tall pahoehoe ridges. Deep craters and abundant
cracks and crevasses to skirt or cross seperate you and the vent.
All the while you can see the Vent on the southern horizon,
standing tall against the skyline.
Cottontail Rabbits and Coyotes call this desolate place home, as
well as scattered Junipers, sagebrush and a few prairie grasses
that have managed to take hold on the precious little soil that the
centuries have deposited in the cracks and holes. Expect to travel
no faster than 1 mph, so give yourself plenty of time.
The cache itself is a well stocked painted ammo can with a
geocaching logo.
Other Hells Half Acre caches
Old
Bones
Lava Rock Walk
El Diablo