Thursday – Ropey Deserts and Holes

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For our last full day in the park, 3 of us headed out to the west of the park for a hike across a desert to see sink holes, under the shadow of the enormous Mauna Loa peak. ( Marilyn got on her bike again to enjoy some downhill ). It was another day of howling winds, and some wild rain periods. ( Apparently January was an unusual drought period here, but Feb is more than making up for it. Timing – the secret of great holidays!)

Mauna Iki (little mountain) is our trail.
Lianne strides out towards the desert . In the distance are the foothills of Mauna Loa ( long mountain) on top of which you can just see some snow patches.
The lava formations look organic , but are apparently a result of slower moving lava at the edges of flows being folded over
Rope lava
Rope lava – showing the hollow core
Pele’s hair ( fine glass-like strands produced by splashes of lava fountain spray cooling in the air )
Cloud formation gives an idea of how windy it was
The Good, the Bad, and the Windy
Sink holes ! Where lava poured back into the earth
Note the black lava flow at right dripping over the edge .
Chuffed with this : a Tropics Bird was buzzing us for a while and I managed to snap it as it whizzed over my head.

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