November 2014 - GOING ON ADVENTURES

Thursday, November 20, 2014
After
driving from the Big Island’s dry southeast shore through volcanic dunes,
created when fine sand blown by trade winds piles up, we begin to appreciate
the unique topography of this youngest and largest of the Hawaiian islands.
Unlike Kauai, which has had millions of years to stabilize (no volcanic
eruptions) and bloom into a tropical paradise, the Big Island of Hawaii
continues to evolve.
Rising gases are a result of volcanic activity.
Five
volcanoes make up the land mass of the Big Island. Kohala on the northern tip
is the oldest; Mauna Kea at more than 13,000 feet is the tallest, and Mauna Loa is the largest by sheer
volume. An active volcano, it erupts about every 25 to 50 years (last eruption
was in 1984). Kilauea, home of legendary volcano goddess Pele, has been erupting
continuously for more than 30 years with new lava flows that started in summer
2014 threatening to devour more roads and homes.
This
landscape was recognized for its historic and geologic significance and became
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the United States’ 13th national
park, in 1916, even before Hawaii was a state.
Our tour arrives
at Jaggar Museum, and we observe glowing displays of red-hot lava in the crater
there.We walk steamy Sulfur Banks Trails
filled with craters bubbling up strong- smelling sulfur dioxide gas. Then we
drive the winding Chain of Craters Road where magma swells and forms a rift along which
eruptions occur.A 36-mile round-trip
drive, Chain of Craters Road descends 3,700 feet to the coast and ends at a 2003
lava flow.
The volcanic rift is easily seen in this photo.
The caldera
is easily accessible by car, which provides an excellent opportunity to see flowing
lava. Since the lava’s path changes constantly, check with the Kilauea Visitor
Center to get the latest report on where to see this.
Nate, our guide
leads us to a remote area where we walk carefully on what resembles a moon scape,
dusty and drab and jagged, to see the aftermath of the eruption of Mauna Ulu.
Hills and small craters cover the area, and it’s very windy and chilly in late
afternoon. But it’s such an unusual scene that we are glad to experience it. Spotty
patches of vegetation creep in ridges as plant life adapts to this most
improbable place. Even where it’s dry, the so-called fog drift provides much
needed moisture.
Walking on a lava field
At sunset,
Nate drives to his secret place where we dine in semi-darkness. He has planned
a treat and invites us to follow him down a path, clutching flashlights and
jackets against the night chill. Many tourists go to Jaggar Museum to witness
what we see close-up in the dark sky--a brilliant red plume rising from the
ground. We’re standing beside an active lava display, all the more spectacular
for the darkness that surrounds us--—the crowning glory of our tour .
Vegetation is just beginning to appear after this lava
flow. No reconstruction has taken place here.
The gate to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open 24
hours every day. There is only one
entrance to the park as the eruption from Kilauea from that began in 1983 blocked the
other entrance. Since the eruption continues today, the road hasn’t been repaired leaving a 10-mile gap
where vehicles cannot drive. Check on updates from the summer 2014 eruption. if you plan to visit Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Remnants of volcanic eruptions cover the landscape on the
Big Island's dry side.
We hear
about volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and marvel at the fiery red molten lava that
threatens to destroy homes and property. But the fact is that eruptions have
been continuous for more than 35 years in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the
Big Island. The thought is hard to comprehend until we start a tour from the dry,
rocky side of the island to the more tropical and humid coast.
We meet few
cars on Saddle Road (Hwy 200), a deserted span that cuts across the middle of island
instead of following the coastline. Brown tufts of fountain grass pop up along
the road with a few mesquite trees scattered around. The ground is covered with
remnants of past volcanic activity.This is mostly ranch land with tradewinds
blowing across the island that shake our van.
﻿
Vegetation begins to dot the barren land as we move closer
to the wetter, tropical side of the island.
The entire
Hawaiian Island chain was created by volcanoes, which still fill the ocean for
18,000 feet below the surface. When there’s a hole in the earth’s crust, heat
comes up from the mantle causing lava to dribble out rather than blasting the
top off. The entire Big Island is a hot spot with a constant flow of lava in
what is now the protected park.
As the
youngest island in the chain, Hawaii is made up of five volcanoes that are
constantly changing. Mauna Loa, an active volcano that last erupted in 1984, is
the largest mountain in the world by volume. Even though only the tip is
visible above water, it makes up 60 percent of the island.
﻿
Leaving Thurston Lava Tube, a massive lava cave.
As we enter
the national park our guide explains that we’re going back to the birthplace of
the islands. Our first stop is a lava tube, a cave-like structure that we can
walk inside. In its natural state with rocks, dripping water, and slippery
algae, we’re give flashlights to maneuverthrough the dark.
Hiking on sharp lava. Some vegetation is creeping through
the solid rock.
Our guide
explains that there are two types of lava—a smoother, spongy variety and craggy
volcanic rock that is as sharp as a Brillo pad. At Huaka Crater we hike a bit off
the beaten path and experience this type of lava—it sounds like walking on
glass and can cut if you happen to fall on it. This deep crater contains rocks
as large as automobiles at the bottom that were offered as gifts to Pele, volcano
goddess to whom Hawaiians believe they owe the very existence of their island. We see a curiosity, a lava tree: Lava from
the 1979 flow surrounded the trunk causing the tree to die but leaving a
perfect, empty mold.
﻿
﻿
Deep craters like Huaka can be seen at several places in
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
If your vacation plans include hiking, biking, or
fishing in mountains or a part of the world that is higher elevation than your
normal home situation, be prepared for altitude sickness. With less oxygen in
the air, symptoms of headache or dizziness may start to appear at about 8,000
feet elevation, although altitude or mountain sickness can occur even lower in
susceptible people.
From Arequipa, Peru at 8,000 feet, we traveled into the Highlands.
Our guide kept telling us to move slowly and conserve energy.
Acute mountain sickness(AMS) is the most common type and causes
symptoms similar to those caused by an alcohol hangover, usually within a day
or so of arriving at a higher altitude. Symptoms may include headache,
tiredness, lightheadedness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and nausea.
For the 25 to 40
percent of people who get mild symptoms of acute mountain sickness, Dr. Eric Johnson,
globally recognized expert on high-altitude medicine, says to rest and stay
where you are until you feel better. “Do not travel or climb to a higher altitude until all
symptoms resolve. Moving to a lower
altitude can also help if symptoms do not go away in a day or two,” Johnson
adds.
Altitude sickness can occur in
summer or winter.
The good news,
especially for people with limited vacation time, is that a common
over-the-counter medication—ibuprofen—could help reduce the symptoms. A study by the American College of
Emergency Physicians reports that people who took ibuprofen before, during, and
after an ascent were far less likely to develop symptoms of AMS.
“You don’t want
to feel horrible for 15-20 percent of your vacation,” says Grant Lipman, MD,
whose research at Stanford University corroborates the effect of ibuprofen.
More serious than acute mountain sickness are high altitude cerebral
edema (HACE) and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), both of
which are less common but require descending to a lower altitude immediately.
HACE involves swelling of the brain and results in trouble walking normally, extreme
weakness, confusion, and/or irritability. HAPE involves fluid build-up in the
lungs and may not show up for two to four days. Symptoms include coughing,
feeling breathless, and trouble walking uphill. If symptoms are severe, get
medical attention immediately.
﻿
Even at 18,000 feet elevation, vendors are selling their wares.
However, they are accustomed to lower oxygen levels in the air.
For any type of
altitude sickness, breathing supplemental oxygen, if available, can provide quick relief. We’ve found
that hotel staff in high altitudes commonly supply oxygen in tanks for guests.
Having experienced mild AMS myself, I know that this is often sufficient to relieve
symptoms. Prescription medications used under a doctor’s supervision can help
prevent and treat mountain sickness.
Signs identified volcanoes that could be
seen from this high point. The air is definitely
thinner at 18,000 feet.
Prevention is
best, of course, so give your body time to adjust. Avoid moving quickly to high
altitudes; plan to stretch out ascending over several days.If you are hiking, biking, or
climbing, avoid difficult physical activities for the first few days. When
hiking to a higher altitude during the day, go back to a slightly lower
altitude for sleep each night. Skip alcohol
and sleeping pills. Most likely your body will adjust if you allow enough time, so you can enjoy your travels. Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier
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About Me
Hi, fellow wanderers. Travel makes us better people by allowing us to experience the wonders of our planet. Come along and enjoy my travels in the U.S. and all over the world. I'm a freelance writer and photographer who loves testing my wings with new adventures, seeing new sights, and experiencing new cultures. Look for my byline on a variety of topics in many national and regional publications.
“Thanks to managed access, visitors to Arches, Glacier and Rocky Mountain National Parks saw more wildlife and wild lands than brake lights ...
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