Virtual
Geology Field Trips
Roger Weller,
geology instructor
wellerr@cochise.edu
Geology Home Page
copyright 2008-R.Weller
Washington
APE Cave (lava tube)-Mt. St.
Helens
photos by Mark Weller
(copyrighted 2005)
last edited:
1/18/08
number of photos: 31
The APE Cave is a lava tube within the southwest flank
of Mt. St. Helens; it is a national volcanic
monument. The lava tube was
created approximately 2000 years ago as a pahohoe lava drained
out of an
encrusted cover. The lava tube in its entire length is 12,810 feet ling,
making it the
largest known lava tube in the USA and one of the longest lava
tubes in the world.
rocks- photos
of andesitic basalt from the APE Cave:
1
2
photo tour-
The following set of 31 photos explores the upper cave, a
length of about 1.5 miles.
The hike usually takes about 2.5 hours.
1.
START TOUR hiking up the trail to the Ape Cave
2.
exit from the upper cave
3.
trail to the upper end of the upper cave
4.
a collapsed small lava tube along the trail
5.
a misty entrance to the upper Ape Cave
6.
descending into the upper entrance of the upper Ape Cave
7.
inside the upper Ape Cave
8.
wet walls covered with light-colored fungus
9.
a large lava ball
10.
looking up at the ceiling of the lava tube
11.
"candy kiss" cross-section of lava tube
12.
small basaltic stalactites on ceiling of lava tube
13.
closer view of small basaltic stalactites
14.
Collapsed roof of lava tube provides a skylight
15.
a crack in the wall of the lava tube
16.
a tall area in the lava tube
17.
a large, trapped lava ball
18.
a wide passage in the lava tube
19.
a banded lava ball
20.
another lava ball or a fragment from the walls of the lava tube?
21.
The lava tube makes a right turn.
22.
more lava stalactites
23.
strange cross-section
24.
floor of the Ape Cave
25.
walking down the lava tube
26.
the light at the end of the tunnel
27.
another large lava ball
28.
fragments from collapse within the tunnel
29.
approaching exit from upper Ape Cave
30.
climbing up to the surface
31.
back into the light
Photos are copyright free for non-commercial educational uses.
Just credit photos to Mark Weller/Cochise College.
Cochise College
