{"id":15298,"date":"2015-03-29T01:00:20","date_gmt":"2015-03-29T11:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/darkerview.com\/wordpress\/?p=15298"},"modified":"2015-03-29T11:44:28","modified_gmt":"2015-03-29T21:44:28","slug":"climbing-the-right-pu%ca%bbu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/darkerview.com\/wordpress\/?p=15298","title":{"rendered":"Climbing the Right Pu\u02bbu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another weekend, another pu\u02bbu… So last week I climbed the wrong pu\u02bbu<\/a>. This weekend I climbed the right pu\u02bbu.<\/p>\n

\"Pu\u02bbu<\/a>
Pu\u02bbu Kole as seen from upslope across the a\u02bba lava field<\/figcaption><\/figure>The goal was to explore a pretty landmark I had looked at from the summit road so many times, Pu\u02bbu Kole. In the late afternoon light this cinder cone becomes a brilliant shade of red, a striking feature in an already impressive view.<\/p>\n

Reaching this hill one travels a couple miles down the R-1 road, the Ka Aliali Trail. A couple of miles of 4WD road to bounce over. The road is not that bad, but I would recommend a true 4WD vehicle. DLNR requires a 4WD vehicle based on the signs, not that everyone reads the signage at the start of the road.<\/p>\n

Unlike last weekend<\/a> there was no heavy fog to obscure the landscape as I reached the area. My goal was obvious… the big red pu\u02bbu just downslope from the road. There is a short secondary road, signed R-2 that leads into the area between the two hills. After about a quarter mile this road fades at the edge of an a\u02bba flow. After parking I got out and sat on a rock outcropping for a while with a snack. The area is just pretty, the jagged black lava and native plants. I finished a bag of chips, downed a water bottle and simply enjoyed the view.<\/p>\n

Pu\u02bbu Kole is notably harder to ascend than Pu\u02bbu Palaolelo. I suspected I was on the wrong pu\u02bbu last weekend when it was too easy, reaching the top after a quick stroll in the fog. Pu\u02bbu Kole is nearly twice as high, as least when approaching from the upslope side.<\/p>\n

\"A\u02bba<\/a>
An overgrown a\u02bba Lava field on the flank of Mauna Kea<\/figcaption><\/figure>Just getting to there is also complicated by a few hundred yards of a\u02bba lava that must be crossed from the nearest bit of road. I must have stood there for a good ten minutes, attempting to find a path across the rough lava. I did choose a fairly good path, finding a low ridge that had a relatively smooth surface that crossed about half of the lava field. Still, getting across took some rock hopping.<\/p>\n

Despite the difficulty, the a\u02bba field was really pretty. Native bushes like pukiawe<\/a>, hinahina<\/a> and \u02bbohelo \u02bbai grew amongst the boulders creating an effect prettier than many deliberate gardens. It may have taken time and effort to cross, but the walk was worth it.<\/p>\n

With the a\u02bba behind and below it was the steep cinder slope that was the next challenge. The loose material threatening to betray each step, sliding underneath your feet. I slowly side-hill up the slope, taking advantage of a couple level shoulders on the northern flank. For a mere two mile stroll it takes some effort to climb a cinder cone.<\/p>\n

Unlike Pu\u02bbu Palaolelo, Pu\u02bbu Kole has a beautiful, intact crater at the top. Actually there are two craters. Climbing the north flank you come to a smaller side crater, beyond that is the much larger main crater.<\/p>\n

Descending into this main crater I had the impression of being some hapless insect that had stumbled into an antlion’s trap<\/a>. The steep, loose cinder was so reminiscent of those little pits. I do not recall having ever explored such a nice crater on any of the previous cinder cones I have hiked to.<\/p>\n