Haleakala Crater - Maui - 4.19.2012
We started the Haleakala crater hike by parking at the Halemau'u Trailhead (8000')... then hitched a ride up to the summit visitor center (9778')... for the 11.7 mile through hike to our car.
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Before starting the hike we drove up to the Haleakala summit to take in the sunrise.
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From the summit we could see Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the horizon... the two volcanoes on the island of Hawaii.
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After sunrise, we drove back down to the Halemau'u Trailhead (8000') and parked.
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At the Halemau'u Trailhead there is a specific area on the highway for people to hitch a ride up to the summit.
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From the Hitchhiker area we are looking down towards Kahului Harbor.
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We caught a ride up to the visitor center from a German couple... the summit and Science City are above.
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Denali Girl has found the Sliding Sands Trailhead (9778')... located near the summit visitor center.
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Denali Girl heads into the crater.
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A broad view of the crater... clouds on the far left are coming through the Ko'olau Gap... clouds on the right are coming through the Kaupo Gap.
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Descending... looking back toward our starting point.
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The summit visitor center is on the right.
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Kilohana, Kalahaku and Leleiwi are the cliffs on the left... clouds coming through the Ko'olau Gap in the center of the photo... we will end up hiking in those clouds at the end of the day.
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A closer look at the cliffs.
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Heading down... the three cinder cones are Ka Lu'u o ka 'O'o (left), Kama'oli'i (right foreground) and Pu'u o Maui.
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There is a side trail over to Ka Lu'u o ka 'O'o (8326')... a very colorful cinder cone... a 5 mile roundtrip hike from the visitor center.
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Looking at Kaupo Gap in the distance.
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Three Haleakala silverswords.
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A garden of Haleakala silverswords.
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Looking back at the summit area on the horizon in the center of the photo.
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The silversword can live up to 50 years... and only flowers once in its lifetime.
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A dead silversword... the stalks can be as long as six feet.
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The trail continues down toward Kaupo Gap... Ka Moa o Pele is the cinder cone in the middle of the photo.
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No idea what this is.
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After 3.8 miles of hiking we are at 7500 feet... and will head for Holua.
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The cinder cones look a lot larger from 7500 feet.
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You can see the trail that will take us over to the Ka Moa o Pele cinder cone... the summit in the distance is Hanakauhi (8907').
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The Chukar Partridge is a non-native bird that was introduced to the island for hunting... this one will be safe as long as it stays in the park.
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Evening Primrose.
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The route over to Ka Moa o Pele.
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Denali Girl is a speck... on her way to Ka Moa o Pele.
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Looking back toward the summit area.
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Looking back toward the summit area... Pu'u o Pele is the cinder cone on the left... Pu'u o Maui on the right.
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Looking back at the summit area.
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A pano shot looking back at the summit area in the center of the photo.
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Denali Girl approaching Ka Moa o Pele.
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Taking a break at Ka Moa o Pele... Hanakauhi is the summit in the distance.
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Clouds are busy in Ko'olau Gap.
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The Halali'i cinder cone is in the foreground... and the Pu'u Naue cinder cone is behind it... we are going to take the .8 mile side trip between these two cinder cones... it will only add a half mile to our hike.
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We will start the side trip here and head for Kawilinau... a 65 foot hole in the crater floor.
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Heading toward the Pu'u Naue cinder cone.
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Between the Halali'i and Pu'u Naue cinder cones... looking at the cliffs on the west side of the crater.
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Looking back at the summit of Hanakauhi.
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Glad that I wasn't here when this was created.
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On the north side of Halali'i... and looking at the summit area on the horizon.
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Denali Girl and earth colors.
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Looking back.
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Looking down to the spot where we will finish up our .8 mile side trip.
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Only 1.9 miles to the Holua Cabin.
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Looking back at the summit area.
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Heading for the clouds in Ko'olau Gap.
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Looking back at the summit area.
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Denali Girl heading for the Holua Cabin.
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Denali Girl heading for the Holua Cabin... we will eventually have to switchback up the cliffs in the photo.
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One last look at the summit area before we hike into the clouds.
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The Holua Cabin... one of three cabins in the crater.
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We have reached the cliffs... a mile hike from the Holua Cabin.
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There is no such thing as a red fern... or is there?
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Denali Girl on the switchbacks that seemed to last forever.
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Out of the clouds after switchbacking up the cliffs... gaining 1500 feet of elevation on our way back to the car... a long day!
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