On our drive looking south. A'ā lava flow** in the foreground. Unlike the smooth "ropey" pahoehoe lava, 'A'ā forms when the lava is cooler, thicker, and moving more slowly. As it moves, the surface crust breaks into these sharp, spinose fragments called "clinkers." (gotta love that name).

The large mountain in the background is **North Crater**, one of the most prominent cinder cones in the park. If I have failed to mention it, I do love Gemini: You can see **Limpine Pines** and **Douglas-fir** trees clinging to its slopes. Interestingly, these trees often grow only on the north-facing slopes (the left side in your photo) because those areas stay cooler and hold moisture longer than the sun-scorched south-facing side.
* **The "V" Notch:** Notice the large gap or "breach" in the side of the crater. This happened when a heavy flow of lava actually floated away a piece of the crater wall, carrying it downstream like a "crater chip."