| Looking down into Kilauea Iki Crater. Roughly the same view but better lighting conditions than on p. 33 |
| This is the trail down. It was quite steep in places with a number of switchbacks (see map). |
| And this is what it looks like at the bottom of the trail, entering the crater itself |
| Looking toward the Pu'u Pua'i Overlook where I took pictures of the rainbow's end |
| This is roughly where the rainbow ended. Doesn't look too promising does it? |
| One of the many steam vents. You could see the steam from a distance but as you got closer it was harder and harder to see. |
| If you look down into one of these vents, it's just a hole - there's no lava or anything down there. |
| This is where I saw people the last time (see page 33) |
| Moles? I don't know what caused this. |
| Looking back along the trail. I came down that steep slope directly ahead. |
| There's people up there on the Pu'u Pua'i Overlook |
| I love my zoom! |
| Looking back |
| Looking back from further along the trail |
| Looking forward. I'll be climbing out of the crater up there. |
| Looking back |
| Looking forward |
| Zoom. Hi! |
| Looking back as I start up out of the crater |
| Looking back down into the crater from about halfway up |
| The trail ahead |
| The trail ahead |
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| Today I did some hiking around Kilauea that I've wanted to do ever since the day I saw people in the bottom of Kilauea Iki crater (page 33). I started out at around 11:00 in the morning from the parking lot for the Thurston Lava Tube (far right of the map above) on the Kilauea Iki Trail. I got about a half mile down the trail when I realized I was going the wrong way (the tick mark near Kilauea Iki Overlook). I turned around and picked up the trail heading the other way. So before I even started, I'd already walked a mile! I've marked on the map the path I took. Where I've noted "Missed this turn", I had intended to take the trail back to where the car was parked. But instead I ended up climbing all the way up to the Volcano House where I got a large root beer at the bar and watched Monday Night Football live on TV. It was 4:00 in the afternoon. I was completely beat. I realized, however, that it was getting late and I didn't want to get stuck in the woods in the dark and I still had a little over two miles to go, so I headed back on legs of spaghetti and took a brisk, waddling walk back to the car. I made this trip alone because Robin's been unable to hike lately. It's very strange doing something like this by myself - walking through "hell" alone! |
Photos 2, page 17
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| Monday, October 9, 2006 |
Hiking Kilauea Trails
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