The Spatter Cone chain represents the very essence of Craters of the Moon -- volcanism. These "mini-volcanoes" formed when blobs of molten lava were thrown a few feet into the air during the last gasp of an eruption. The hot clots of lava fell on top of one another and became welded together to form small cones around a central vent.

Ironically, as rugged as the Spatter Cones look, they are very fragile. Although erosion is a natural process, the accelerated destruction of these cones began when the very first visitor climbed to the top to take a look inside. It wasn't long before the effect of thousands of footprints became evident. Faced with this problem, managers at Craters of the Moon undertook a number of steps.

When rangers compared photographs taken in the 1920s to present conditions, the problem was easy to recognize. On some of the cones, more than two feet of rock had worn from the rim. On others, entire sections of the crater wall had collapsed. Visitors had worn numerous trails into the flanks of every cone.

The staff contacted other parks with volcanic landscapes to see if they had similar problems. Most managers reported that they also had experienced difficulty preventing people from hiking across the steep slopes of cones. As deep ruts began to appear on the cones, most of these managers solved their problem by closing sensitive areas to visitor travel and allowing certain volcanic formations to be viewed only from a distance.

The first priority at the Spatter Cones was to repair past damage. The Park Service removed old cement stairways, asphalt trails, and pipe railings. They covered the scars with rock collected at the base of the cones.

The second priority was to prevent further damage. Several options were considered:

• Do nothing and accept the deterioration.
• Close the area to all visitor use.
• Construct a viewing platform.
• Allow limited access.

Managers decided to allow limited access. Visitors are now encouraged to look inside several cones adjoining the parking area, but stringent controls prohibit access to the other cones.

The maintenance crew removed unneeded trails and improved access to areas where use is encouraged. They stabilized the new trail with buried timbers and added railings and retaining walls to make it safe and prevent it from widening.

With little experience to guide this effort, the Park Service made mistakes. The safety railings around the Snow Cone had to be rebuilt three times. The first railing, constructed of metal pipe and wire mesh fencing, looked like a plumber's nightmare. The second railing, made of wooden poles, resembled a corral for very small horses. Finally the crew completed an enclosure of lava rock pilings with cable strung between them. This was the only barrier that was not a visual intrusion.

These efforts were coupled with a new regulation restricting off-trail travel in the area, and with educating visitors about the fragile nature of the cones.

Since completion of this project, the deterioration of the Spatter Cones has greatly slowed. Visitors have shown their support with positive comments and a willingness to stay on established trails.

1. A packet of historic photos is available in the support kit at the Visitor Center. You may Break into small groups, each of which receives one of the historic photos. From the Spatter Cones Parking lot find a vantage point which most nearly matches the one from which their photograph was taken. You must remain on the trails. Even scientists must obey regulations when studying the monument, because their footprints are the same as everyone else's. Either sketch or photograph what you see.

2. After returning to school, prepare a report incorporating the photos or drawings. They The report should answer the questions on the following page.