Little Cone Calm Once More

(Norwood, CO    Mountain Tantrums    May 5,  2016)

After raging out of control for most of the spring the once dormant volcano, Little Cone, appears to have returned to the 2400-year cycle and ceased eruptions. Since late March the rambunctious rock formation has discharged over five cubic miles of white ash and black lava, but has not generated any earthquakes as of yet.

Geothermal experts were shocked at the fury of Little Cone, a teen-aged mountain that was thought to be a bit of a wallflower, an enigma in light of the associations she kept on the Sneffels and Wilson Ranges. For centuries Little Cone sat by childishly while the other mountains made their marks and did all the work.

For some time it appeared Little Cone would have things her way, gushing lava into the canyons and river bottoms, destroying the countryside. Then, without warning the eruption terminated and the birds began to sing again.

Although generally found near seacoasts volcanoes like Little Cone and her brother Lone Cone (known as Strombolian volcanoes since they feature thicker lava from which gas is released with explosive intensity) are also located in belts of weakness in the earth’s crust near great mountain chains.

Little Cone began blowing her top in March and became potent almost overnight. At first residents were fascinated with the light show but soon saw the dangers therein. Several virgins (they said they were virgins) were sacrificed to a host of hastily concocted gods and demons that were reputed to have an inside track with someone who had minor influence on Little Cone.

This morning a land bridge or spatter cone, composed of three parts lapilli and one part volcanic ash, has effectively connected the Twin Cities of Naturita and Nucla with the plush bedroom communities of Bedrock and Paradox.

“We could be seeing the formation of the world’s largest pumice dam,” said a volcano watcher stationed on what used to be called Norwood Hill.

– Merv Ditchwater

“Podran cortar todas las flores, pero no podrán detener la primavera.”
-Pablo Neruda