Ape Caves Hike 2008

Sorry these first 5 photos should be last, but just roll with it.

This is volcanic rock in the lava tube.

A dramatic look after crawling out of a 20 ft.crawl space that

some of the braver souls endured. 

This is our exit. Phew!

Ain't Helen a perty little thang?

Peter with our hikers.  Emma's friend Sam

was along for the trek.

OMG!

Here is the opening of The Ape Caves at Mt. St. Helens.

I'm still in awe of the 2 hikes we endured yesterday.

The caves are actuallly lava tubes that formed over 1,900 years ago.

Peter and I are so impressed with how well these 

kids handled the 2 cave hikes ... whine-free to boot!

My favorite quote from Will:

"this isn't hard mom, this is fun"

(his special lisp makes it oh-so-scrumptious to hear)

It is absolutely pitch black inside.

If you don't take a moment to look up every once 

in a while with your headlamp, you may miss something pretty crazy like this.

Peter remembered a funny little hideout.

He and Theo got ahead of us (as well as above us) and freaked us out as we came along.

A much need skylight along the way to give hope to wee ones 

who were starting to worry that maybe it didn't really end after all. 

The Exit.