Atomck1

Lava Hike 3A

Shot 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 hike appea...
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Shot 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 hike appeared to be an easy one. From the air 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. After some time a group of people arrived and took up positions directly behind me on the ledge armed with their point and shoot cameras, all set on automatic. Although a bit annoying at night, their combined flashes served nicely to bring out just a bit of foreground detail.
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