Lava Beds Nat. Park, CA

I went to Lava Beds National Monument for a week to teach a Wilderness EMT Course for Park Rangers. I was unaware that the Park has 741 lava caves, which is the most extensive network in the Continental U.S.

We practiced medical scenarios inside caves. I was fortunate to have the evenings free, so several of the students and I explored many of the long caves and hiked around Mammoth Crater on "The Big Nasty" trail.

Life in the caves was limited to bacteria that glowed when light shined on it and a few insects. All caves with bats inside them were closed.

Life outside the caves included deer, elk, ground squirrels, chipmunks, and birds like Cedar Waxwings and Sage Bluebirds.

The weather was good all week. The terrain is high desert.

This Park is worth a visit.