Photos 5, page 24
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Napau Crater Trail Hike
| May 22, 2009 |
| Being a glutton for punishment, I decided to play hookie today and try and finish the hike I did on 11/1/08 out Napau Crater Trail. This time I wanted to reach the end. As you no doubt recall, I turned back last time because I wanted to get back before dark. As it was, this time I ended up leaving a half an hour later than I did before. |
| 8:58 AM A check of wind direction at "View of plume" near home tells me the wind direction is from the south, blowing the plumes to the north. I will be coming in from the west, so I shouldn't have a problem. I'm more interested in the plume from Pu'u O'o, not this one. |
| 10:40 AM Breakfast at Volcano House. The plume from Halema'uma'u Crater is also toward the north. |
| 11:21 AM @ 003 The trail ahead |
| 11:45 AM @ 004 A panoramic view of the path ahead. In the far distance is the Pu'u O'o vent, just off the left shoulder of Kanenuiohamo Lava Shield (elevation 3440), the mound in the middle distance. Makaopuhi Crater is to the right of Kanenuiohamo, behind the hill sloping up to the right. The slope to the right is the shoulder of Mauna Ulu Lava Shield (elevation 3360). A "lava shield" is simply a mini-volcano, a build-up of lava from a previous eruption. The place is riddled with them. Kilauea isn't just a single volcano with just one crater but dozens of outlets where the lava has come out over the years. |
| A closer look at Kanenuiohamo and Pu'u O'o. |
| And closer yet of Pu'u O'o |
| 12:08 PM @ 005 Hiking up over the shoulder of Mauna Ulu, the trail is marked by stone cairns |
| 12:13 PM @ "Grass" Amid all this desolation is this little patch of grass... |
| 12:16 @ 006 Looking back, that's Mauna Ulu on the left. The trees just barely peeking above the right side of Mauna Ulu are on Pu'u Huluhulu. |
| 12:32 PM @ 007 Kanenuiohamo with Makaopuhi Crater to it's right. Pu'u O'o is hiding behind Kanenuiohamo. Out here, the only sound is the wind. When the wind stops, it is ab-so-lutely SILENT! |
| 1:06 PM @ Makaopuhi |
| Just to the right of the crater, the trail goes into the woods... |
| Quite a difference, huh? Now the silence has given way to more silence broken only by the sounds of small birds chirping all around. It's much cooler here too. And easier to walk! |
| 1:21 PM @ "Fork" Kalapana Trail, forking right, leads down to where the lava is flowing into the ocean. Napau Crater Trail is the one I'm on. I started at "Mauna Ulu Trail" and am headed for "Napau Crater". |
| 1:30 PM @ "Overlook" Another view down into Makaopuhi Crater. That's Mauna Ulu in the distance. I came in from where the vegetation starts below Mauna Ulu and walked all the way around the crater |
| This came as a surprise. What's this doing way out here? |
| And then a glimpse through the trees - the whole point of me coming out here: I can see Pu'u O'o. I've had enough. I've hiked over 6 miles and I'm tired, ready to turn back. But I have to press on to get to Napau Crater and the end of the trail. |
| 2:35 PM @ "Napau Crater" Finally, I made it! Napau Crater. With a little rain on my lens. Pu'u O'o is in the center of the panorama photo, lost in the exposure. <-- There it is! --> I'm done! Only one problem: I still have to walk back! I'm beat, my feet are sore, but I have no choice. I have to hike the 6 1/2 miles back to the car or spend the night... |
| straight line! Walking, it's probably more like 4 or 5. No thanks! Maybe some other time. There's a camping area at Napau Crater (I didn't see it) and I don't think it's much of one, but maybe someday I'll spend the night and continue the journey... |
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