A Walk In Paradise At Planet Mars, in Planet Earth, California

A walk in paradise?

Or a walk in planet Mars?

Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark

Or a walk in paradise at planet Mars, yet not leaving planet Earth? More so, not even leaving the state of California.

Hiking at Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark, in Amboy California, gives a mixed feeling of awe and wonder, between the temporary

and the semi-permanent;

between life

and non life;

between the exotic beauty of this planet Earth 

and planet Mars.

Amboy Crater is a 246 ft ancient North American cinder cone, and accesible by a friendly trail from the east side of the crater. The trail from the parking area to the base of the crater starts flat, it is more like walking in paradise with all the sunflowers extending to the horizon and gets thicker near the crater. It is awe-inspiring to see how nature turns this part of the desert into a paradise after a wet season.

Walking along the rim of the crater, and inside the crater, sure did feel like being in another space, no surprise that this crater together with two other locations, Anza Borrego Desert State Park and North Iceland were all used to test the Mars rovers.  

 " Amboy Crater has been used as a Mars field analog study area for decades, because it displays in a relatively small area a wide range of volcanic and eolian landscapes very typical of many locations on Mars. As with the Borrego test, the goal will be to log in excess of 10 km on the rover." -  (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2005/pdf/1592.pdf ). 

The crater and lava field were designated a National Natural Landmark in May, 1973. Much of the hike from the east of the crater to the breach in the west side of the crater is flat,

then changes to moderate slope, 

and goes steep and slippery in some parts to the top of the crater. However, there are several access to the top of the crater, with the gentlest slope on your left side when you enter the breach from the west side of the crater. Once at the top of the crater, you can walk along the rim to learn and experience more of the geological features from one side of the breach to the other. But be very careful especially on a windy day 

Notice Rim of the Hat Flips Upside Down due to Strong Wind

since some parts of the rim is too narrow and steep in both directions. But walking along the rim rewards you with a view that is really so unique, a sight that we very seldom see and experience. How often do we see the blending of black lava field, patched by purple and yellow wildflowers, stretching to the salty white lake bed bordered by chocolate colored mountains?

Not often, unless we take the time to head out to the unique beauty of the desert and immerse in its surreal wonders. Hiking at Amboy Crater at the height of wildflower bloom in spring wonderfully felt like a walk in paradise at planet Mars, 

yet not leaving planet Earth.