FIELD REPORT
Along Young Mountains of Volcanic Glass
The Mono Craters are young — some as young as 600 years. The obsidian that covers their flanks formed when silica-rich lava cooled so fast that crystals never had time to grow. The result is volcanic glass, black and sharp, that catches moonlight with small bright points.
We started at 10 PM from the south trailhead. The moon was three days past full. No headlamps needed above treeline. The shadows were sharp. The silence was absolute.
Back at the cars at 2 AM. The kind of run that operates slightly outside normal time.
