Hot Footing Lava Hunters

Lava hunting, even in trainers, is worth every step.

18:21 17 October 2016

When in Hawaii, watching and getting up close as much as possible to erupting volcanoes is simply a must -- regardless of what you’re wearing.

 

Simon Parker went to see Hawaii’s Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Its lava lake at its summit is currently at its highest for some 16 months. 

 

On his way, he came across a more outdoorsy-looking man who gave him good advice.

 

He said: "You must be hunting for lava!"

 

"Just keep going for as far as possible."

 

"You'll be soaked but it's worth every single step."

 

The path to Kilauea's slopes is certainly a bumpy one, and to get there, Simon had to traverse a four-mile (6km) route across the neighbouring Kilauea Iki crater - the scene of its very own dramatic eruption in 1959.

 

After 30 minutes of trekking through a labyrinth of stooping ferns, the glimpse of Kilauea’s crater caught his gaze in the middle of the distance. There he saw a vast of cauldron of auburn liquid rock. His journey reached an abrupt conclusion at a sheer drop that even high-end climbing ropes and crampons would be unable to handle – let alone is flat-soled trainers. However, he said that he was let to ponder the extraordinary sight of Kilauea. He concluded that it was worth every single step – even in trainers.