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Hiking Haleakala
Crater |
Advice: Eat your Wheaties |
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Below are images from my hike
through the Haleakala Crater November 2008. I
traced our route on the map below. You can click
on the image to enlarge it. |
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11/29/08 - Haleakala Crater, Maui,
Hawaii
Time to go hiking!
Even as I write this, two days after our hike
through the crater, I am still quite sore.
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But it was worth every ounce of
complaint my body has given me. On the hike, I was
accompanied by my husband John and a friend acting
as our tour guide; Rick (pictured
left). |
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Haleakala Crater has several trails
winding through it. We opted for the Sliding Sands
or Keoneheehee Trail route which starts out by the
visiting center's parking lot. |
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From Sliding Sands, we were going to
take Halemauu Trail and follow-up to it's head,
which happens to be located off another parking
lot. A parking lot with our vehicle conveniently
waiting in it after Rick picked us up there and
drove us to Sliding Sands trail head. |
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Our friend and tour guide gave us
plenty of food for thought beforehand. You will
start off cold, the weather is unpredictable, and
last but not least, the last 3-miles are a steep
climb. |
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While there was a bite to the air, I
was glad we hit the nail on the head with the
beautiful, sunny skies.
The landscape was unlike any I have witnessed
before.
Turning around, our descent trail looked like
another planet. |
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Minimal vegetation was spotted
during the hike, especially in the beginning of
it. |
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While some views reminded me of the
Midwest or photos I have seen of the Midwest, |
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a quick turn of the head would yield
a sight for which I had no reference outside a sci-fi
movie.
Update: I read this is a Cinder Cone.
The hike we did covered about 11-miies and
these images were taken in the first half-mile. |
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In reading about the
creater, I learned Haleakala Crater meant "House of the
Sun".
One sight I saw regulary was the Silversword or
'ahinahina.
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We just missed the flowering of the
Silversword. I read it takes about six to twelve
years for the plant to flower, at which time the
Silversword emits a beautiful fragrance.
A single flowering stalk will grow from the
base of leaves. |
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During out hike, we had opportunity
to extend our journey. Straight ahead is Ka'Lu'u o
Ka 'O' o. An out and back trail. We decided we had
bitten off plenty for the day and didn't need to
undertake extra mileage. That was my thinking at
least. |
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Besides looking at amazing and rare
scenery, the hike gives one a chance to catch-up
with friends. |
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For example, I never knew Rick did
not like coconuts to grow on Palm Trees. They
could fall off and knock someone in the head. |
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Rick learned John and I have been
married 4-years. |
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Probably not a new piece of
information, but it was confirmed yet again, I am
a sunscreen fanatic. You have to be on Maui. As my
sister said, "The sun on Maui can burn
through a roof."
I have it layered so thickly, I look like an
Opera Singer here.
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Some interesting, fern like plants.
They gave the crater a gold hue. |
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An image of me trying to get a photo
of the plants. |
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Enough of that, we have some
territory to cover. |
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Turning around, the crater had a
warm glow to it. You can see the Cinder Cone on
the right. |
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The Halemau'u Trail can be seen
here. |
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Rick leading the way. |
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We are leaving Sliding Sands behind
us. |
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The first sign that maybe we didn't
hit the nail on the head with the weather. |
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