A true volcanic landscape

If you have an interest in volcanoes and geology you might want to take the time to visit a landscape that very few visitors to Hawaii ever get to see. In fact, most people who live here have never gone to see the volcanic features that can be observed on the north flank of Mauna Loa, the largest volcano above sea level on our planet.

While the summit of Mauna Loa  is 13, 677 feet above sea level, a bit lower than Mauna Kea, it formed by the accumulation of lava on the sea floor which is about 16,500 feet below the ocean surface. The tremendous weight of this rock depressed the floor of the ocean as it was accumulating by about 26,400 feet. If we add all that together we see that the summit of Mauna Loa is actually about 56,000 feet above its base, making it the tallest mountain on Earth. Not the highest (since height is measured from sea level) but the tallest from base to summit.

A drive up this mountain from Saddle Road exposes features that are not disturbed by people. Many of the same features can be seen in Volcanoes National Park, but millions of visitors have altered the natural scenery so that what you see is a mere suggestion of what was once there. The road to the 11,000-foot level is paved, although it is only one lane wide. It, therefore, must be driven with caution. There are several side trips to see specific features which are only accessible if you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

At the end of the road is the Mauna Loa Observatory which is a baseline station for the Global Monitoring Division of the Earth System Research Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Drop in visitors are not welcome at the Observatory, but you can make prior arrangements for a visit through their website at: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/mlo/index.html. This Observatory made the original atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements which alerted scientists to climate change. They have been monitoring carbon dioxide since 1958 and have the longest continuous record of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the world. In addition they also monitor other aspects of atmospheric chemistry as well as solar and infrared radiation.

You can hike to the summit from the end of the road. It can be done in one day, but it is an arduous hike since you are above 11,000 feet for the whole trip. It must be taken very slowly and unless you are used to high elevations, it is not recommended.

My book, BIG ISLAND, HAWAIʻI GUIDE, available at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GYJRJ6Y details a day trip up the north flank of Mauna Loa which is accessible to anyone.