Kilauea crater getting more active?

[DaveNV]

Saw this today online: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31145344/

Anyone on the Big Island seeing this?

Dave

 

[DeniseM]

That's exciting! If that continues it might be worth a day trip from Kauai this summer!!!

 

[Luanne]

Cool! We'll be staying in Volcano Village on our "gap night" between timeshares next month. It would be great if it's viewable then.

 

[lynne]

We have plans to drive down there sometime this week. Will update this thread if the viewing is worth the trip.

 

[Palguy]

We leave 7 weeks from tomorrow. My grandson and I are taking a day to spend exploring the volcano along with a helicopter tour, just the two of us. What I wouldn't give for him to experience something like that.

 

[lynne]

We leave 7 weeks from tomorrow. My grandson and I are taking a day to spend exploring the volcano along with a helicopter tour, just the two of us. What I wouldn't give for him to experience something like that.

You will definitely see the hot lava flow from the helicopter. It is rare to be able to see it within walking distance. We had the opportunity a few years ago where the lava was flowing within 1/4 mile from the end of chain of crater's road. It was the thrill of a lifetime to get within 6 feet of the flow but our clothes smelled like sulfur and the air was quite toxic. Flashlights, water, long pants and good walking shoes are recommended for up-close lava viewing.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

You will definitely see the hot lava flow from the helicopter. It is rare to be able to see it within walking distance. We had the opportunity a few years ago where the lava was flowing within 1/4 mile from the end of chain of crater's road. It was the thrill of a lifetime to get within 6 feet of the flow but our clothes smelled like sulfur and the air was quite toxic. Flashlights, water, long pants and good walking shoes are recommended for up-close lava viewing.

We did the lava hike in 2004. There's really nothing like getting that up front and personal with hot lava. When we did the hike you get as close as you could stand the heat.

 

[travelbug]

The vogg that is mentioned in the article impacts all the islands. In November on Maui the vog was thick. It really impacts people with asthma.
Marlyn

 

[Palguy]

We did the lava hike in 2004. There's really nothing like getting that up front and personal with hot lava. When we did the hike you get as close as you could stand the heat.

Did you do the hike on your own, or is there a guided hike that will get you close to the lava? I know there is an access area near Kalapana, but it is restricted to the end of the road there.

 

[DeniseM]

Did you do the hike on your own, or is there a guided hike that will get you close to the lava? I know there is an access area near Kalapana, but it is restricted to the end of the road there.

You can pay for a private guided hike, or you can just walk out there. If the lava is in the Kilauea crater when you are there, you won't have to hike - the circle drive goes all the way around the Caldera - it will be right there. On this map, the area marked #7 is where the current activity is.

If you decide to get up close and personal, be very careful with your grandson. There is nothing to keep people from being incredibly stupid out there. You can walk right up to the lava and fall in if you want - and people do. When we were out there a guide (not ours) told us the previous week he had seen someone walk right up to the lava, break through the thin top crust and burn both legs off at the knees! When we were there, we saw teenagers walk up to the hot lava and poke it with a stick....I was scared to death that I was going to see a terrible accident!

This is about as stupid as you can get: (IMNSHO)

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

You can pay for a private guided hike, or you can just walk out there. If the lava is in the Caldera when you are there, you won't have to hike - the circle drive goes all the way around the Caldera - it will be right there.

If you decide to get up close and personal, be very careful with your grandson. There is nothing to keep people from being incredibly stupid out there. You can walk right up to the lava and fall in if you want - and people do. When we were out there a guide (not ours) told us the previous week he had seen someone walk right up to the lava, break through the thin top crust and burn both legs off at the knees! When we were there, we saw teenagers walk up to the hot lava and poke it with a stick....I was scared to death that I was going to see a terrible accident!

Walking out on the lava field on your own is even more incredibly stupid. The terrain is both rugged and featureless, so it's very easy to get lost. It can be extremely hot with no shade, and there is no water. Fresh lava is often razor sharp; if you fall you can easily wind up with deep gashes. If you put your foot down in the wrong place you will slice the sole of your shoe to shreds, and possibly lacertae the bottom of your foot.

And in the midst of your disporientation you could stumbe right into the active flow.

 

[DeniseM]

I agree Steve - since it appears that Palguy's grandson is pretty little, I think I would check it out from the observation points along the Circle Drive.

 

[Luanne]

Walking out on the lava field on your own is even more incredibly stupid. The terrain is both rugged and featureless, so it's very easy to get lost. It can be extremely hot with no shade, and there is no water. Fresh lava is often razor sharp; if you fall you can easily wind up with deep gashes. If you put your foot down in the wrong place you will slice the sole of your shoe to shreds, and possibly lacertae the bottom of your foot.

And in the midst of your disporientation you could stumbe right into the active flow.

We were talking last night about our one, and only attempt, to walk out to see the lava flowing up close and personal. I don't even know how far we made it out before turning around. We had at least one flashlight die, I'm very "unsure" footed so it was slow going, but the final straw was when we saw a family heading back and their young daughter was all cut up and bleeding from her fall(s) onto the sharp lava rock.

 

[DeniseM]

We saw several bleeding people as well - especially bare knees and hands. We saw people trying to hike out there in shorts and flipflops, with babies and toddlers! Scary!

 

[charford]

I'm on the Big Island now. It's about my 10th trip, and we were here in February and saw the volcano at that time. Didn't really have plans to visit this trip, but after reading this report......We'll be off to the VNP visitor center tomorrow! Thanks tuggers.

 

[DeniseM]

I'm on the Big Island now. It's about my 10th trip, and we were here in February and saw the volcano at that time. Didn't really have plans to visit this trip, but after reading this report......We'll be off to the VNP visitor center tomorrow! Thanks tuggers.

Please give us a full report! We are contemplating making a daytrip from Kauai if it's worthwhile.

Here is some more info. - http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2009/6/7/Kilauea_lava_volcano_geologists

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

When we did the hike to the lava flow, in 2004, the National Park Service had marked a trail to the flow area using yellow reflectors. You parked your car at the end of Craters Road, and followed the markers onto the lava field.

The NPS took pains to pick out a relatively "safe" route with the markers - by safe I mean that there was reasonably good footing without sharp edges in path. But next to the path there certainly were sharp edges.

We did the hike in just before dusk, so we could see the lava at night. There was a very steady stream of people on the trail; in fact it was about one half hour hike from where we able to park until we could even reach the trail head at the end of Crater Road.

It was amazing to me to see the number of people who seemed to regard it as a like a stroll in a meadow. People in flip flops, bathing suits, carrying infants in arms. I even saw a some ladies in dresses and and 2- or 3-inch heels!!!!

*****

That being said, we would do a similar hike in a heartbeat. We were disappointed on our last two visits to the Big Island that we couldn't get out to the lava flows.

 

[HatTrick]

USGS video of Halema`uma`u vent.

 

[Luanne]

My first trip to the Big Island was in 1968 with my parents. I remember going to the park and having dinner at the Volcano House. We could see the lava bubbling in the caldara through the window. Quite a site. This is the view we had.

 

[DeniseM]

USGS video of Halema`uma`u vent.

Thanks for posting! WOW!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

USGS video of Halema`uma`u vent.

That was about one month after we were at Park, viewing the vent from Jaeger Observatory.

 

[MuranoJo]

When we did the hike to the lava flow, in 2004, the National Park Service had marked a trail to the flow area using yellow reflectors. You parked your car at the end of Craters Road, and followed the markers onto the lava field.

The NPS took pains to pick out a relatively "safe" route with the markers - by safe I mean that there was reasonably good footing without sharp edges in path. But next to the path there certainly were sharp edges.

We did the hike in just before dusk, so we could see the lava at night. There was a very steady stream of people on the trail; in fact it was about one half hour hike from where we able to park until we could even reach the trail head at the end of Crater Road.

It was amazing to me to see the number of people who seemed to regard it as a like a stroll in a meadow. People in flip flops, bathing suits, carrying infants in arms. I even saw a some ladies in dresses and and 2- or 3-inch heels!!!!

*****

That being said, we would do a similar hike in a heartbeat. We were disappointed on our last two visits to the Big Island that we couldn't get out to the lava flows.

We also did this hike a couple of years ago just before sunset and we got up pretty close to some of the minor flows (like the teenager with the stick ), and at a few points could see the lava spilling into the ocean, which was amazing. However, I 150% agree--wear strong shoes, pants (not shorts), take a light, and pack water! There was a marked 'path' when we were there and people were streaming to and fro, but this path involved climbing up and down rocks. You might stumble and the shards are very sharp--I came out with some cuts. I was amazed at the people climbing in there wearing flip-flops.

Sounds like the flow might be closer now.

 

[Palguy]

You can pay for a private guided hike, or you can just walk out there. If the lava is in the Kilauea crater when you are there, you won't have to hike - the circle drive goes all the way around the Caldera - it will be right there. On this map, the area marked #7 is where the current activity is.

If you decide to get up close and personal, be very careful with your grandson. There is nothing to keep people from being incredibly stupid out there. You can walk right up to the lava and fall in if you want - and people do. When we were out there a guide (not ours) told us the previous week he had seen someone walk right up to the lava, break through the thin top crust and burn both legs off at the knees! When we were there, we saw teenagers walk up to the hot lava and poke it with a stick....I was scared to death that I was going to see a terrible accident!

This is about as stupid as you can get: (IMNSHO)

I was not aware the circle road was open all the way around the crater now. I thought it was closed part way around. If that is the case I agree it would be far safer and much less of a chance of something going wrong. No sense ruining a perfectly good vacation by taking unnecessary chances. My grandson is 12 now and still not experienced enough for anything as extensive as an unguided trek such as that.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I was not aware the circle road was open all the way around the crater now. I thought it was closed part way around. If that is the case I agree it would be far safer and much less of a chance of something going wrong. No sense ruining a perfectly good vacation by taking unnecessary chances. My grandson is 12 now and still not experienced enough for anything as extensive as an unguided trek such as that.

When we were there last August, the circle road was closed south of Jaeger Observatory - #4 on the map posted by Denise. The closure was due to toxic sulfur emissions from Halema'uma'u. Below are some photos of Halema'uma'u, showing the plume:

These photos were taken about one month earlier than the video in the link that Hatrick posted; when these photos were taken the lava hadn't broken through to the floor of Halema'uma'u as shown in the video.

Unless gas emissions have significantly declined, I can't imagine that the road would be open past Jaeger. Below is a photo taken from Jaeger and looking back at the Mamalahoa Highway and Mauna Loa. That cloud hugging the ground on the left side of the photo is a dense VOG cloud. I was acutally watching the cloud advance from left to right. We had just come through that VOG cloud on the way to Kilauea, as we ascended from Punalu'lu to Volcano. The air quality was every bit as bad as it appears in the photo. I do air pollution control work, and the SO2 levels were clearly enough to send people to the hospital with prolonged exposures. If it was like that on the Mamalahoa, it was certainly appropriate to close the rim circle road.

 

[jlr10]

When we were there last August, the circle road was closed south of Jaeger Observatory - #4 on the map posted by Denise. The closure was due to toxic sulfur emissions from Halema'uma'u.

Unless gas emissions have significantly declined, I can't imagine that the road would be open past Jaeger.

Per the Park's website: Chain of Craters Road is open but the Crater Rim Drive is closed past the Jaggar Museaum.