"An Abomination of Desolation"

...is how Father Hubbard described the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes when he first explored the area.  I finally made it out there on a trip with our dispatcher Ryan (aka "Radio".)

I have to concur with the padre's assesment.  Today it's an ash-covered, god-forsaken wilderness almost entirely devoid of life.  Here I am finding religion moments before jumping over the River Lethe.

Here's Ryan rejoicing at reaching the old USGS hut situated at the corner of Baked Mountain and Broken Mountain (Broke'-Baked Mountain for short.)  Image unretouched.

Novarupta, site of the largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century.  Eh, I thought it'd be bigger. 

some images courtesy RJ Thomas