We had stopped here to examine the spectacular crater formed when groundwater came in contact with magma several million years ago. The area is surreal.
Several craters dot the immediate area.
Ubehebe Crater is the largest. It is like walking on the Moon. Descending from the parking lot, which is the highest, windiest, most exposed place in the area, we ran down into the largest crater. Pulling phat parallel turns, we skied in our boots down the 500 foot ash and basalt slope. Hiking back up was another matter.