Loading…
13
Watch out for that deceptively stable looking basalt column...
I was hiking near the old lava flows and almost took a bad step on what looked like solid rock. The surface was cracked and gave way slightly under my weight. It's not just about slipping; whole sections could shift if people aren't careful. I'm confused why it seems so stable but isn't... maybe weathering?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
grace3206mo ago
On the basalt flows near Mount St. Helens, I learned the hard way that the columns can be totally loose under a solid looking crust. That thin top layer hides years of water getting into cracks and freezing, which pries everything apart slowly. Always test your weight on the edges of those big hexagonal plates before stepping out into the middle. If you hear a hollow sound or feel any movement, just back off and find another route. It's crazy how something so strong looking can be so ready to collapse.
3
joseph_ellis856mo ago
Yeah, and it's not just slow decay either. A big rain then a sudden freeze can wreck those columns in just one season, way faster than folks realize.
1