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11/29/2008 -- Haleakala Crater, Maui
Walking along Halemau'u Trail in the crater, I
noticed more lava rock than Sliding Sands. Or so
it seemed. |
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Maybe it was because, as the
clouds swept into the crater, they accentuated the
dark, rocky terrain surrounding our path. |
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But just as soon as I was getting
used to the stark terrain, we turned a corner and
I saw vegetation. It wasn't abundant at first, but
it was there. |
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At this point, Rick reminded us
about a special, unmarked treat he had planned for
us.
We were about to enter a lava tube.
John borrowed Rick's headlamp and we were ready
to rumble. Or crawl. Who knows. I would soon find
out.
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The sign warns of a steep drop and
to bring a bright light. |
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John proceeded ahead of
me. |
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I grabbed the little flashlight
followed.
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Some interesting nooks and crannies
to explore. |
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Unfortunately, while I was down
there, I decided I didn't like nooks and crannies,
especially a nook under heavy, lava
flow. |
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I turned around but not before
glancing down an unexplored section. |
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Up the ladder to sweet sunshine and
fresh air. |
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John exits the tube. |
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When I first came out of the cave, I
was amazed how beautiful and clear the scenery
appeared during my short underground visit. I am
not sure if the cloud really cleared up a lot, if
the contrast to the dark cave was the reason. Or a
bit of both. |
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Time to get back on the marked
trail. There are several cabins nestled in the
crater which have outside toilets or out-houses
next to them. |
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We approached one about two-thirds
into our hike.
It has a picnic table that well is perfect for
having a picnic. I opted for the Mango Bread I
packed. |
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3.9 miles until we reached Park
Road. It was all uphill from here.
Literally! |
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