Katmai National Park has two distinct features. Bears, lots and lots of bears on the Brooks River; and the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. This is a spectacular forty square mile, 100-700 foot deep pyroclastic ash flow deposited by the eruption of the Novarupta Volcano in 1912. We first visited the bears, and then took a 5 day backpacking trip in the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. This page should help us remember that trip.