Following the trail down into the unearthly landscape, you come across the beautiful Silverswords, first a few at a time and then eventually slopes covered with younger versions (a wonderful sight as this has been an endangered plant for some time).

You find yourself walking through cloud banks. It is hard to tell distance as the landscape is so unusual. Occasionally sighting other hikers or some horseback riders give some perspective as to how immense this place is.

As you descend you start seeing cinder cones standing alone and quiet. You can't help but wonder what tremendous forces caused all of this to happen.

This particular trip had a turn around point at a crater part way down into the region. The lava chunks were rough, the colors were vivid reds, yellows and oranges mixed in with browns. In the distance the valley floor looked like an artist's surreal painting as light broke through the clouds onto the dry plant life growing in the red soils.

Returning back up the slopes to the road presented totally new perspectives. More clouds, more colors, different lighting. One area even looked like it could have been on the moon with its unique grays and blacks and no other colors. Climbing back up to meet the sky presents an entirely different challenge than the descent. The cloud banks below seemed to be racing to overtake you. You have to wonder if something is hiding in them.

Before leaving it is worth a short drive to the very top near the observatories. At an elevation of 10,023 ft (3055 meters), knowing that the ocean that you can't see is very, very near, you definitely are on top of the world, looking over a sea of clouds in all directions.