Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Image Heavy

[Matt K.]

So on the fourth day we went to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Could have stayed there for a week to take pictures, so much to see. Apart from the incredible experience to be on a live volcano with vents and lava cooking below, there is vegetation unlike anywhere else, and wildlife unlike anywhere else as well. It is quite the experience, and I am counting on going there again. Anyway, there is a ring road all around the Kilauea Caldera volcano, at the craters edge. Part of this ring road was closed at the time we visited, since there was too much activity on the rift line, and this is not a good thing, since it can give away at any time. As a matter of fact, shortly before we got there, there was a boy who wandered off the marked path and he slipped into an opening, not very deep, but had major severe burns to his legs. So even then it is not without danger. Here is a view of the Halemaumau crater, a secondary crater in the volcano.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8503251663_66710a0ccf_b.jpg

A little bit closer with another lens ...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8503252535_e313f63615_b.jpg

and finally I had to pull out the 70-200

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8503249629_114e01553b_b.jpg

Then we started to drive around the ring road, aptly called Crater Rim Drive, and got a look at the crater from a different perspective

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8504357224_e9dfee7149_b.jpg

One of the stops along that Crater Rim Road was to see some active vents, where the sulfur laden steam escapes the bowels of the earth. Though there are waring signs all ove, I just had to get close to some of them (remembering the kid that stepped off the path and burned his legs, I watched closely for any obscured openings .. lol) So far this looks pretty harmless

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8503245599_aacc52a899_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8088/8504353106_85603057ba_b.jpg

then you get a little closer and you can see deposits of sulfur more close up

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8503248129_941864b9c5_b.jpg

even closer

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8504355086_b11f7a3366_b.jpg

[Matt K.]

and finally I saw this and stepped almost in

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8504351630_51db122475_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8504350328_bff132dc3b_b.jpg

[Marko]

Nice set set Matt.k

I too could have stayed there a week...but I was only there for about 3 hours.
If I recall, I drove from the opposite end of the island for 3-4 hours each way in order to get those 3 hours (on the day my flight was returning home)

Must go back one day...

[mbrager]

Quite the adventure. I really like the last two in the first post, very clear close ups of the sulphur deposits. I came across this post Shooting Lava in Hawaii (http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/creations-dawn-on-the-big-island/) the other day and thought of you.

[Hillbillygirl]

Thanks again for sharing these Matt.Very interesting shots, and thank you for the narrative/lesson.

[Mad Aussie]

Aren't they just awesome freaks of nature! How'd you like the smell of the sulphur? :) Smells like a cross between rotten eggs and a decent fart yeh?? I've seen stuff like this in NZ many times but never actually been to the rim of an active volcano .... it's on the bucket list though.

Great shots, you've provided a very nice exposé of your day up there.