Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1915-03-27


in the islands. Owing to the
fact that some of these volcanoes are
by no means extinct, the ascent is
often exciting and sometimes rather
dangerous
Very recently Mauna Loa was as
cended by DR.. A. S. Baker of Keala-
kekau and Rev. A. G.. Bowdish of Paia.
In spite of the light and smoke which
proclaimed the. fact that the volcano
was in eruption again after a silence
of seven years, it was a decidedly
chilly and forbidding reception which
awaited them as they came to the top
of the once more active mountain. The
snow is abundant one and a half miles
down the sides from the crater, and
the wind Is saturated with a cold and
dampness which penetrates even
heavy clothing.
The second day out the explorers
came within fifty feet of the crater
Immediately after shutdown, strug-
Cling along through the heavy snow,
but they were forced to descend at
once below the snow line to find
camping place. Even though they has
tened back down on the same trail it
was intensely dark before they could
pause. Here during the night the Their
mometer registered II degrees, tenn
perature which was made much worse
by the strong north wind that swept
across the unbroken lava field.
Climbing Exhausts the Mules.
During the night Doctor Baker was
quite sick and incapable of further eff
fort. But it was determined that an
early start for the top be made by Mr.
Bowdish and the younger guide. The
mules were quite exhausted with their
two days of work, closing with the
supreme effort of the night before, and
were scarcely rested for another effort
when 1t was by no means sure that
they could get through to the rim Of
the very edge of the great cavity.
Mr.. Bowdish and the guide felt well
repaid for their daring attempt to
cross that barrier of snow, for they
saw one cone still active, throwing
lava up $50 feet or more, while near
by was a bowl that was boiling,
splashing lava to the height of 80 feet
or more. Just beyond these to the
south was a narrow line of fire where
stream of lava had not fully cooled
on the surface There was smoke is
suing at dozen or more places in
comparatively small volumes, but no
fire was visible or other cones in
sight. The whole floor was vast
black surface with practically no un-
evenness, barring the chilled walls of
lava streams apparently no longer ac-
tive.
The active cone was from fifty to
one hundred and fifty feet high, and
the display of white-hot lava was like
the illumination of gigantic flower
pot" In fireworks The lava was thrown
up three times the distance Of the
height of the cone above its crest. The
lava lost its color before 1t reached
the highest point and became black
against the blanket of show which was
VII thS SlOpG Vi lllC ltil NhCi oAdC VI tiN
crater. Except for this relatively small
slope all that the party could see from
their location was perpendicular walls
on all sides.
Trail Through Lava Flows.
The party required two days to
make the ascent and half day less
for the return, during the short winter
days. They had had no bad weather
except a drizzling rain the first after
noon and night. This clear weather
was indeed fortunate, for the compli-
Gated trail must be followed to avoid
the later flows of lava, like great clink-
ers, which are impossible for animals
and must be avoided. For % miles or
more the unbroken pillows and cross
streams of black lava are irregularly
covered by the later and impossible
flows, making a labyrinth of the trail
which only the initiated can follow.