A panorama of Meteor Crater. Click for a larger image.
When I was a kid I was absolutely fascinated by science and nature, especially very large and very small things like quantum mechanics and space. I guess you could say I was a bit of a nerd. It was probably because I was always surrounded by popular science magazines and books courtesy of my parents and my grandfather Sveinung.
One of my early memories is someone showing me a picture of this big hole in the ground caused by a meteor impacting the earth. It was an awesome photo and I was captivated by it. How could something fall out of the sky and cause so much damage? Could it happen again? How big was the explosion? The questions came in endless cascades and my poor family was subjected to endless speculation and progressively more complicated and annoying questions.
As the years went on the image of Meteor Crater, located in the Middle of Nowhere, USA, stuck in my brain like a catchy pop tune. And I knew that the chances of me ever actually seeing it in real life were slim to none.
Morten and Angela at Meteor Crater
A serendipitous hapstance
On Tuesday as the sun set we found ourselves in Yuma staring at the closed gates of the Yuma Territorial Prison – the only worthwhile thing to see in that city according to our research. With the prison closed we needed to find out where to go next. The original plan was to head on to Tucson and take the southern route all the way to New Orleans but just to make sure we weren’t missing anything spectacular Anny dove into the AAA book for Arizona / New Mexico. As we drove out of town she goes “There’s a place in Arizona called Meteor Crater”. My jaw dropped. Are you kidding me? We are actually close to the big hole in the ground I’d been thinking of since childhood. It was too good to be true. But as with many things it was actually true (though “close” was a bit of a stretch). So we laid a new course that took us to Phoenix, the city famous for their $15 hot dogs that come with a free ticket to the Coyotes.
After a quick rest in a motel in a creepy part of town we piled into the car and drove for 4 hours through Flagstaff to get to the big hole in the ground in the middle of nowhere. And there, on a side road right off the 108 between Flagstaff and Winslow, the edges of the crater appeared like an apparition. Even from the outside it looks weird, like the edges of cake crust when the filling has burst through. I was so excited my skin was tingling.
Meteor Crater – The Experience
Walking along the rim of Meteor Crater
On this trip we’ve learned one thing: If it’s worth seeing and it’s in the US, it’s going to cost money. To experience Meteor Crater you’ll have to shell out $15 per head. And though I’m normally frugal to a fault I actually think that’s fair considering the place is privately owned and operated and kept in meticulous condition. The visitor’s centre has a huge presentation on meteors and space in general, two pieces of the actual meteor itself and a crappy 10 minute video they should have paid me to produce. But I digress. The important part is that the price includes a 1 hour walking tour along the crater edge, complete with history and whitty commentary. Definitely worth it.
The tour requires good walking shoes, sunglasses and strong legs. I’d also recommend sun block, a hat tied firmly to your head (it’s insanely windy up at the edge), and drinking water in the summer. The terrain is uneven, steep and littered with rocks and dust. But the view is breathtaking. I’m not even going to bother trying to describe it – just look at the photos instead.
For $15 I think I should get to take home a piece of the meteor, don't you?
Here’s a tip: After getting back from the crater rim you’ll be all drugged out on crazy geology and you’ll end up in the gift store where they sell real fossils, real petrified wood, gems, toys and other stuff you’ll want to bring home with you. Don’t. It’s way too expensive. The fossils are all from other places like China, Poland and Africa and the petrified wood is cheaper from the roadside stores closer to Petrified Forest about an hour down the road. I know it’s enticing, but keep your wallet in your pocket. The memory won’t be any better if you walk out with a bag full of expensive rocks.
That said, this place is amazing and if you’re ever anywhere close by or have an interest in geology, astronomy or natural wonders, Meteor Crater is definitely worth a visit. I know my dad would love it and probably drive the guides bonkers with complicated questions and comments so when I earn my first million I guess I’ll have to fly him out.
