Aida, Matt, Quan, Tessa and myself flew to Maui to hike across a dormant shield volcano and drive on the highway to heaven, since the stairway is reputedly slated to be torn down.

Lahaina Pali

Our accommodation for the night. Forget ocean views, we had beach views.

Haleakala

We woke up early the next morning and broke down the Jeep and then tried to get into the Haleakala National Park before 7am. Lack of a permit resulted in us watching the sunrise down the road. Try once, try twice and you’ll still get the same results. Shades of the goat whisperer.

Keonehe’ehe’e Trail

Group photo before Matt and I left to start our hike for the day, Quan along with Aida and Tessa would pick us up on the other side. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Starting our hike at over 9,000′ elevation.

Sliding Sands Trail

Making our way down into the massive depression that is roughly seven miles by two miles wide.

Sliding Sands Trail

Trying to pick out the volcanic landmarks from left to right: Ko’olau Gap, Waikau, Hanakauhi Peak, Pu’u Kumu, Pu’u o Maui, Kamohoalii, Pu’u Naue, Ka Moa o Pele, Paliku, Pu’u Maile, Kaupo Gap and Haleakala Peak.

Sliding Sands Trail

The trail wound its way down past the alpine desert colored with earthy pigmentation. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Matt losing part of the 2,400′ elevation descent to the floor.

‘ahinaahina

These dense balls of silvery green leaves with towering stalks that flower once and then scatter their seeds into the wind, used to carpet Haleakala until animals and visitors pushed them to the brink of extinction. The creation of Hawaii National Park in 1916 and later Haleakala National Park in 1961 helped to save the endemic silversword plants.

Sliding Sands Trail

Enjoying the short stretch of shaded corridor. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Somebody was keeping their hands warm or just playing pocket pool.

Sliding Sands Trail

Going down the switchbacks. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Nothing was dropped in the making of this photo. The real thing would come later. Sooner than one would think.

Sliding Sands Trail

Fall colors. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Only 1.9 more miles to the bathroom. For somebody, that couldn’t come fast enough. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Walking through a sea of bright red ‘ama’u ferns before they turn green. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Hikers coming and going.

Sliding Sands Trail

When nature calls, Matt answers. In a hurry.

Kapaloa Cabin

The nene or Hawaiian goose, are evolved from the Canadian goose that migrated here over 500,000 years ago. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kapaloa Cabin

We took a short break and enjoyed our first cabin stop near the Kaupo Gap. No vacancies. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Just 5.3 kilometers to our next stop. Trying to get out of the dark ages.

Sliding Sands Trail

Meeting other hikers on the trail. The start of somebody’s bad habit of talking to strange men.

Sliding Sands Trail

Hiking towards the eastern end of the wilderness valley. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

Matt stepping down the well marked trail.

Sliding Sands Trail

Looking across the sea of clouds; we could see the still active volcanoes of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai on the Big Island.

Sliding Sands Trail

The state bird honking at us in its bovine croaking tones. One them was also missing the ubiquitous leg bands normally found on their species. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sliding Sands Trail

We detoured off the main trail to head towards the last cabin(s) on our hike.

Paliku Cabin

Approaching the historic cabin at the base of a rain forest cliff. Locked up tighter than a drum. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Paliku Cabin

Checking out the park ranger’s cabin. Where is that Garden of Eden?

Paliku Cabin

In 1962, 35 nene from England and the Big Island were released in this area after having been extinct on Maui since the 1890s. Park rangers, naturalists and Boy Scouts carried them in whiskey boxes and hiked 9.8 miles to bring them back home. Group photo with two of the descendants, the geese can live up to 24 years. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

Walking down the section of trail covered with white fungus on the rocks. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

Passing through an open field. The faint trail would be temporarily lost until we saw a fluttering ribbon in the distance and picked up the trail again. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

A spider wrapping up one of three bees that it had caught in its web.

Kaupo Trail

Making our way down through the grassy fields. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

The gate marked the transition between the padded forest path with a hard and unyielding trail covered with loose gravel that could send one rolling on their back or butt if not careful. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

No bull sighted. Just grass fed Haleakala cows. The only sheep dogs we saw were locked up. No free roaming canines. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

Looking out towards the coastline broken up by the bays of Kamanawa and Mamalu. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

We continued on the rocky trail after our forward momentum was temporarily interrupted by two large sounding and very angry pigs in the grass. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

The gravel road was soon replaced by bushwhacking and not the nice kind either. Is there any good kind of bushwhacking? Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Trail

The not so fun portion of the hike involved finding the faint trail through all sorts of plants that did their best to poke and prod us in all the wrong places. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kaupo Ranch

Thanks to the girls for picking us up and not getting lost. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Trailhead

Group photo at the end of our hike. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kipahulu Campground

Dining on reconstituted food by headlamps off Highway 360. Quite the road trip experience. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

All pau

We turned in for the night with only the intermittent construction trucks passing on the road to disturb our sleep. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

GPS Tracks

Our volcanic hike covered 16 miles through an empty vast crater colored by oxidized pigmentation, textured by cinder cones and populated by endemic fauna and flora found nowhere else.

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our hike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujPXXAFhvRE

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

We spent our last day on Maui hiking around the dormant volcano that is actually taller than Mount Everest. Tried getting sunrise permits, which were all out. That meant a couple hours of extra sleep for us.

Haleakala Highway

Sharing the road with bicyclists as we took the winding road up to the top.

Silversword

We entered the sprawling park for free, thanks to Matt and his military service and saw a small scattering of the ahinahina in its natural habitat, the adaptive plants reputedly once covered the slopes like snow back in the day.

Pu’u ‘ula’ula

Panoramic view from 10,023′ of the crater with her different colored landscape and cinder cones populating the floor. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Observatories

Closed to visitation. No stargazing for us today.

Chukar partridge

Just looking for that pear tree now.

Sliding Sands Trail

Matt attempting to introduce waterfalls to the volcanic landscape.

Keonehe’ehe’e Trail

We would not be sliding down this trail today, as Matt had asked the park rangers earlier what the weather forecast held in store. Not good was the answer. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Sliding Sands Trail

Group photo left to right: Matt, myself, Ferlino, Analyn and Cisco.

Haleakala National Park

Ferlino walking the line. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kalahaku Overlook

We stopped further down the road to gather another perspective of the crater. Ferlino getting some air time in the parking lot. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kalahaku Overlook

Watching the contrail clouds roll into the crater. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kalahaku Overlook

Matt looking out towards the twin volcanoes of the Big Island.

Kalahaku Overlook

When the very thing you are looking for is right in your face. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kalahaku Overlook

One last parting shot. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

Driving down the road, we somehow missed the Leleiwi Overlook and ended up in the parking lot for the Halemau’u Trail. Time to hike.

Halemau’u Trail

Making our way through the native shrubland, populated with nene, to the rim of the valley.

Halemau’u Trail

The group following the fence line until they regained the trail.

Halemau’u Trail

Standing on rainbow bridge, supposedly named more for the colorful plants that contrast with the volcanic rock than refracted light in the mist. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Halemau’u Trail

Making our way down to the very clear and cloud free crater. I guess the park rangers must be related to Guy Hagi.

Halemau’u Trail

The trail zig zagged over 18 times down the 1,000’+ cliff.

Halemau’u Trail

The trail started with long and winding switchbacks which afforded us spectacular views of the crater and the surrounding walls. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

Perched atop a protruding lava rock. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

The switch backs became shorter as we approached the gated grassy field at the bottom.

Halemau’u Trail

Setting foot on the crater floor, with only a mile of hiking left to the cabin.

Halemau’u Trail

Approaching the cabin with no reservations, just good intentions.

Holua Cabin

Group photo left to right: Ferlino, Analyn, myself, Matt, Nene, Cisco and Nene.

Nene

No feeding of the photo bombers.

Halemau’u Trail

After a short lunch break, we headed off to explore the nearby lava tube.

Lava Tube

Not this one? Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lava Tube

This one. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lava Tube

Climbing down with out the assistance of a ladder. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Lava Tube

Illuminating our way as we headed deep into the lava tube.

Lava Tube

Group photo inside the cave.

Lava Tube

Climbing back up through the cavernous conduit that used to carry molten lava. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lava Tube

Matt standing underneath the natural skylight.

Lava Tube

Exiting the lava tube after traveling almost 900′ underground. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

Analyn basking in the lava field views. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Halemau’u Trail

Time to pay the piper in terms of gaining all that elevation back that we had lost earlier.

Halemau’u Trail

One last photoshoot above the clouds. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

All pau

Making our way back to the car.

GPS Tracks

Our 12.3 mile hike above the clouds had us walking through native shrubland, switch backing down a steep cliff, and exploring the crater of a dormant volcano. Not a bad day. Post hike meal at Paradise Supermarket, home to the best Filipino food on the island. Thanks to Matt and the group for another fun filled weekend.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Taking advantage of Island Air’s discounted fares, I hopped on a plane to Maui to see an old buddy, Everett, and hike into Haleakala Crater. On the way up, we stopped at Komoda Store and Bakery in Makawao, famous for their stick donuts, but they were on vacation!

Leaving the clouds behind

Going up the winding road to the summit, we gradually started to climb above the clouds as we passed scores of bicyclists going back down.

Pu'u Ula'ula

Standing at the top of Haleakala or Pu’u Ula’ula (Red Hill) at 10,023 feet. The skies were remarkably clear and the thin air was nice and crisp, didn’t even need my windbreaker. You can see the tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa of the Big Island poking up from the clouds in the distance.

Panoramic view from the summit

Click here to see the larger image.

Keonehe'ehe'e Trailhead

We drove down to the parking area where the trailhead was located at. There are restrooms to use before you start heading out on the trail, but be warned as the air is quite chilly up there and the seats are not heated!

Haleakala Crater

As we started down the trail into the crater, we could see the clouds slowly spilling into the rim.

Haleakala Silversword

We came across a bunch of Silversword plants that looked like they had just flowered and they were on their last buds, so to speak.

Haleakala - House of the Sun

In Hawaiian legend, this is where a local fisherman, Maui captured the sun and forced it to have longer days in the summer and shorter days in the winter.

Cinder cones

There are numerous cinder cones scattered on the crater floor, most of them are several hundred feet high.

Paniolo Nazi

“What are you doing?” This rhetorical question was repeated ad nauseum at two Australian tourists that had wandered off the trail by this paniolo (cowboy) guide that was leading a group of tourists down into the crater. He followed it up with threatening statements that it was a $500 fine, even though he is not a park ranger. The horse droppings do far more damage, as they have introduced alien grass and vegetation into the crater. After descending almost 2,000 feet into the crater, we turned around and started to head back up. The thin air and loose volcanic dirt, hence the name “Sliding Sands”, made one work a little harder on the return trip.

All pau

As we got back to the top of the trail, we could look back and see that the clouds had advanced further into the crater. On some days, the entire crater floor is covered in clouds, now that must make for an interesting hike. The next time I make it over here, I plan on hiking the other trail, Halemau’u and spending a night in one of the cabins which would give more time to explore the crater and the lava tubes.