Below Lava

MILE 185

Lava flows dominate the sides of the river below Lava Falls, some cascading down from the cliffs on river right (looking much like black alpine glaciers), others are the eroded remnants of the flows that headed down river towards what is now Lake Mead. Columnar jointing is everywhere, the orientation and thickness of the columns recording the direction of the flows and the rate at which they cooled.

We had lunch somewhere on river left - maybe Mile 183 or 185? The temperatures have been rising as we reach the western end of the canyon - which makes me appreciate the milder conditions earlier.