Lava Hike 2

Shot after sunset from the lava cliffs a few miles south of Kalapana, Hi. I had surveyed the lava fields and cliffs the day prior to the hike from the air and the terrain appeared to be mainly flat with some small hills and valleys. Once on the ground I discovered something very different, the terrain was very uneven. It seemed as though “ankle twisters” were encountered with almost every step. Good boots with plenty of ankle support and an experienced guide are highly recommended, people have died hiking here. Care must be taken with each step, the lava rock was surprisingly sharp and abrasive, a fall would result in some nasty cuts. This was shot halfway down one of the cliffs on a ledge that was probably formed within the last few days, talk about virgin territory. My feet were hot and the rubber feet of my tripod, which were “retracted”, melted a bit. I stood and watched for long periods of time, without shooting any pictures, just taking in the awe-inspiring sight in front of me. Note that there are two people in the distance that are dangerously close to one of the entry points. I can only imagine how hot they were based on how much I could feel the heat from my position. Their guide put them in extreme danger just getting to the top of the cliffs around those entry points. To get there they had to cross over multiple active lava tubes that could collapse under your feet at any moment. Going down the cliffs to the entry point was even more dangerous and in my opinion it borders on insanity. Earlier I watched the lava in that very spot break out in “mini-eruptions” that would have completely covered them. Our very experienced guide, who is a native Hawaiian from the area, was very upset with their guide and was gravely concerned for the safety of his patrons. One can only hope that they returned home unharmed.
Read less