Sometimes you want to be way off the beaten track. Miles from civilization. Not another human in sight. Like in March 2020, with Covid-19. Well, if you live in a big city and don’t own a car, you’re pretty much down to reminiscence.
At the time we visited Black Rock Lava Flow, summer 2019, it didn’t seem too hospitable. It’s exactly what it sounds like – a black rock lava flow. It was over 40 C the day we were there: hot wind, beating sun, pure heat reflecting off the desert sand and the black lava straight into our faces. It was so hot I left the kid in the car, engine running, a/c on full, and only stepped outside for 15 minutes.
But somehow, I’d like to be there right now.
I found this place on Google Earth while studying how to get to Lunar Crater, a place I also found on Google Earth while looking at lonely Route 6 between Ely, Nevada, and …whatever tiny town is at the other end of Route 6. It’s a fly-by stop, just a cool (actually really hot) place you can swing past for a break and to check out something awesome.
 Lunar Crater |
 Grand Canyon |
 Chile |
I tried to gee up my fellow passengers: this is an amazing lava flow! Hard to believe it was literally molten lava bubbling out of a huge volcano! Imagine how hot it must have been then if it’s this hot after it cooled down and solidified!
No joy. It was way too hot. I wouldn’t get a good reaction out of them until we reached Rachel, NV, and the Little A’le’inn where food, drink, and more importantly, air-con, awaited.
But I enjoyed my little foray onto the fringe of the lava flow. The rock was indeed very black, nearly as black as coal when you got close to it. All kinds of tiny wildflowers grew there, and I bet the grassy areas supported skinks or snakes or little mice. It was the definition of remote, and it was very hostile to humans, too. Not a drop of water for miles, no shade; no relief from the relentless sun during the day and then pretty cold at night. Not somewhere to linger unequipped, but well worth the stop.
The video is not up to my usual (already average) standards – I only had half a battery and fifteen minutes to fly the drone. But it gives an idea of the scale and loneliness of Black Lava Flow.
