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Post by brucej on Apr 9, 2018 13:16:40 GMT -8
Hi, Everyone - we'll be in Hawaii in June, and hope to head out to the lava flows from the East Side of the flow field, nearest Hilo (not the national park side). We would probably try to rent bikes at the roadhead to shorten the walk over lava, then after riding ~ 4 miles, head north toward the flowfield on foot.
Can anyone tell me what that eastern approach road is like? Is it rough? Is it more or less flat and along blufftops, or is it hilly, and if so, is it mostly up hill going outbound or back to the trailhead?
Any information appreciated - thanks! - Bruce
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 11, 2018 19:11:43 GMT -8
My husband's brother and his wife did that within the last year. I think the road is easy--maybe even paved (it's closed for safety, but I think it used to go all the way through). It was clearly well worthwhile when they were there, as the lava was pouring into the ocean with enthusiasm. Be sure to plan your trip to be there as it gets dark (I don't know if they include lights with the bikes or if you'll want to bring your own, but I'm guessing it's something many people do and they are prepared).
Follow the rules and restrictions about where you can and can't go.
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Post by brucej on Apr 12, 2018 12:04:41 GMT -8
Thanks for the info - we'd like to get a solid sense of the road terrain, because we expect the bike ride will be harder than the hike, despite the rough terrain and walking on over fresh solidified lava - we're experienced hikers and rock-hoppers, but not so much mountain bikers.
Now that the lava flow on the Pali and plain seems to have stopped dead, we may just scrap the idea - no point in doing a tough lava hike if there's no lava to see!
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Post by brucej on Apr 12, 2018 12:05:55 GMT -8
BTW, we're from near San Francisco too, although we love meandering all over the place.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 12, 2018 20:54:00 GMT -8
we'd like to get a solid sense of the road terrain, because we expect the bike ride will be harder than the hike, despite the rough terrain and walking on over fresh solidified lava I don't think it's a hard ride, though the relatives do bike around Seattle, so are not wimps. But I got no sense that it was a challenge. I can guarantee my SiL wouldn't have done it if, for example, it was real mountain bike style riding.
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Post by brucej on Apr 13, 2018 11:22:30 GMT -8
Do you know if they rented the motorized bikes? I hear they make the return trip a LOT easier, especially late at night.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 18, 2018 9:47:16 GMT -8
Do you know if they rented the motorized bikes? I hear they make the return trip a LOT easier, especially late at night. I'm pretty sure they used regular bikes. They are pretty used to riding around Seattle.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 4, 2018 10:14:52 GMT -8
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Post by hikingtiger on May 4, 2018 10:57:16 GMT -8
Hmm... this whole question my have just become moot. I thought the same thing. Just get to the big island...lava will come to you.
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kayman
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Post by kayman on May 4, 2018 18:27:23 GMT -8
We just left the Big Island 2 nights ago after spending a month there. At the Jaggar Museum observation area in the National Park there was a lot of spattering going on in the lava lake in the crater of Kilauea which was really cool to watch and even more so at night. The Rangers said we were very lucky to see this activity as it hadn’t been visible in a few years. The last few days we were there things were really starting to happen and now..........yikes!
The VRBO we were staying at is actually just 5 miles from all the new lava flow that started yesterday.
Phew!
I just now read this alert on the Volcanoes NP website: May 4, 2018 - Park Closure in Effect Due to recent earthquake activity and damage, the park has closed for the safety of our visitors and employees
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kevin
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Post by kevin on Jun 1, 2018 9:43:08 GMT -8
I am headed there in October. Hopefully the NP will be open by then. I'm hitting the last of the 50 states for my feet on the ground. Was planning some day hike exploring but will have to see how this modifies the experience.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jun 1, 2018 12:27:56 GMT -8
I read some stories on the largest Hawaii newspaper about closures. In some circumstances quite understandable. For instance blocking access to roads where homeowners and businesses have been evacuated lest looters take advantage of the situation.
Usual mind set in this era is authorities are afraid they will be sued if visitors get hurt. I like many serious outdoor enthusiasts am one that strongly dislikes nanny statism of this era that is squarely the blame of LAWYERS who are often too the politicians that make such policy and judges that set legal standards. But for purely natural areas they ought allow those in that:
1. show identification.
2. read a warning document that they are written tested for on the primary contents of.
3. are warned no public program is going in to help them if they get into trouble and otherwise need to secure such rescue services elsewhere by contract beforehand.
4. sign a legal document that they cannot sue any public agency or group. 5. pay a fat fee that covers any overhead letting them in.
Predictably some fools and clueless gawkers would get hurt and some killed. So be it, live and learn. And some in the public would whine that authorities should not have let anyone in. But that is what freedom is about, the choice of doing what one chooses to with personal responsibility for consequences and not be throttled by a legal system that is structured to leech off the rest of us.
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