Back in 1912, a volcanic eruption occured that covered this valley with a flow of hot glowing pumice and ash. As the ash cooled, steam vents formed from the cool river water lying beneath the ash. When scientists first saw this phenomenon, they named the area the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. This picture shows a confluence of the clear glacier runoff water with the ash filled river water.
Walking through this valley appears to give you super-human strength as demonstrated here by Pattie lifting this boulder!
You have to take a 15 mile bus ride out to the valley and we were very lucky to see this eagle and even more fortunate to have a rare sighting of a bull moose along the road side!
