hawaii
23-30 aug 2004
photos by jwz
Time to march across the caldera! At one point, this flat
area was a boiling lake of fire. This is actually a smaller caldera
inside the big one
("Kilauea Iki"),
but it's hard to think of it as small when you're in it. We get down
into it by following a switchback trail through the forest. That pale
white line you see down the middle is that color because of all the
people who have walked across! It's a mile or two across, I think.
It looks completely flat from up above, but up close it's full of vents
and bumpy bits and 30' boulders. And, again, it is much like a
delicious brownie.
Look, a vent! Stinky steam comes up out of the ground. Apparently it's bad for you.
