Exploring a volcano: The romance and the reality

A UW-Madison team endures hardship in the field, where a deceptively calm volcanic site could be spewing lava within weeks. The big fault must be around here somewhere. After all, geologist Wes Hildreth put a line on the map decades ago, and he knows as much as anybody about Laguna del Maule, Chile, one of the planet's most threatening volcanic areas. From our perch overlooking a placid lake, we can see hills, valleys and broad sloping plains. All are remnants of the many volcanic eruptions that were later altered by floods, glaciers and further eruptions. No trees. No shrubs.