this was taken from one of the various ridges where we paused to look at different aspects of the area, but looking "behind" us, away from the volcano. the gray semicircle in the middle is the road we had come in on.

the tree is a noble fir(?), and it's typical of the tallest trees i found on the slopes near the trail. i think it's a hero in a sense, a pioneer in the post-apocalyptic world created by the eruption. i hope i find the time to come back and see these bold trees again.