Given the powerful gusts up here, I can understand why there are so many rocks.
From what I understand, offering are put on top and they fall through. Periodically, a guardian comes up and buries the offerings in the base.
From what I understand, these cones are pushed up during eruptions, but lava may not flow out of them.
As we passed about 11,000 feet plant life has thinned out to nothing. Apparently there are insects up here that prey on insects that get blown up, but otherwise, it's dead.
The Radio telescopes were scattered all around the peak. We are standing on the summit.