Ol Doinyo Lengai Expedition 2004 by Th. Boeckel und Martin Rietze

Lengai expedition II, part III

7^t^h day; Inside the centre cone T 56 B the lava lake was grumbling and the wall of the south cone (T 58 C) broke again. This time I stood together with Richard and Fred in the line of fire. An immense mass from the cone flowed suddenly down and so we had to run for our lives. On both sides the lava did already passed beside us and we found out that the yellowbelly transverse foot tactics to the slope was the most successful. May the lava gives you a free space.

In the afternoon time we had the agony of choice. On the north side the ' Pahoehoe - lava ' was flowing again and created a rim - overflow.

tb Cinema

That means the lava crosses the edge of the crater plateau and the whole mass is spilling down the steep slopes of the Lengai. Like water the lava was flowing out from the small lateral openings of the cone T 49 B/C, than disappeared under the white old lava to re-emerge like a spring in a distance of 40 m . This consistency reminded inevitably of oil sources and after the statements of Fabian we should all be stinky-rich now.

The Lengai Red ...... a new colour

             mr

The flowing lava of the T 49 B in the evening light was excellent photographed by Martin.

8^th day; OK, we survived all these outbreaks without serious problems. The T 56 B remained constant in its strong activity. Up to the next morning we counted 10 violent outbreaks. The strongest occurred before sunrise. The morning dawn let the whole scenery appears in the ideal light.

   mr

Cinema

Over night the lava canalized itself and flowed exactly like in a bob run. This permitted us to approach up to four meters to this hot liquid.

   mr

Sulpur drop stones and cristal caves

   tb

Minerals on the 3 day old lava of Lengai were existing mainly on the gasing little cracks.

9/10^th day The coincident was, that with the last morning activity the whole activity was stopped. Thus a nearly unusual volcanic peace occurred in the next night continuing on up to the last day of descent.



Except of Fred Belton,

he observed the volcano three weeks more because for further examinations. He wanted to know if the air pressure stands in connection to the eruptive behavior. Fred informed us that the activity stopped nearly for two weeks completely but then the T 56 B/C erupted very violent (impressive photo on his web site). An east rim-overflow was the consequence. Fred has to move in the South crater because of safety reasons.

All in all it was a great natural experience which showed us the very different facets of Ol Doinyo Lengai. For me it is very important to say, that this strong international expedition group was one beneath the other very peace and helpful. For the excellent organisation Thanks to Fred Belton. Special Thanks tho our cook Paulo, and Richard Roscoe for organising a porter at the fourth day which brought a rucksack full with beer ..... ( Some photos are uc.)

Members Lengai 2004: Patrick Koster (Holl), Ge Beyers (Holl), Olivier Gruenwald (Fra) , Fabian (Fra), Jeff Brown (USA), Richard Roscoe( GB/Ger ), Martin Rietze and me.