Some video of lava flow on Big Island

[MattyB]

The "MattyB vs. the Volcano" thread was lost when the Palapa was nixed.  I had some video left on my camera from last trip to the Big Island so I finally figured out how to get it onto photobucket so you guys could see.  Jen is narrating for her students (she teaches science).  You might catch a glimpse of me or Bo in there too.

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums....113.flv

[MattyB]

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums....117.flv

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums....118.flv

[osideterry]

I bet it will be hard for you to watch movies like Star Wars III and Dantes Peak again. In both films people RAFT on molten lava.

[bgl]

Matt,

Yes, that was a great evening! Too bad the videos aren't longer! Here are a couple of the photos I took and posted in the earlier thread.

Bo-Göran

[bgl]

I guess I should have mentioned for the few who don't know us (!!), that's me on the left on Matt on the right. And Matt's wife, Jen, was having a blast!

[palmmermaid]

Defintely on my list of things to see in Hawaii!

Nice, Mattyb

[MattyB]

Apparently the lava flow moves around and right now you can't even get to it.  We hiked for about 4-5 hours round trip, over very uneven lava, in the dark, with flashlights, and we ran out of water.  Bo's a camel, but I'll never do that again.  It was amazing and grueling.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Sweet post Matt!  Thanks for contributing!  Definately a must see...  Does your skin come back sunburned from a trip like that?

[bgl]

Bill,

No, even though it certainly feels like your skin is going to be like a very well done lobster (the lava is 2000F !!), you're perfectly fine. Keep in mind, when you're real close to the lava you can only take the intense heat for a very short period of time. I'm talking seconds here!!

And Kitty,

the eruptions and lava flows are very dynamic and certainly unpredictable, and Matt and Jen were very fortunate when they were here in early April, because within a month or so, the entire area was blocked off and no public access was allowed. And then, that particular eruption ceased, and shortly thereafter a new one erupted in a location close by. This was on July 26, and this new lava flow began to head in the direction of Pahoa village, about 8 miles to the northeast. However, the lava flow took many different turns and twists in an area that's both uninhabited and completely out of reach for the public, and even today, it has only covered a few miles. It seems to do more stuff sideways, than in a forward direction, which is good for everyone here in lower Puna. IF it were to reach Pahoa, it would in all likelihood also cut off Highway 130 - our only access road in and out. That would NOT be good...!

I have been out to the active lava flow many times over the years, and it ALWAYS looks different from the previous time. This photo was taken a couple of years ago, and as usual I'm attempting to get as close as possible to the activa lava flow. Our daughter Annika took the photo.

[bgl]

This is as close as I could get. And I was only in that spot long enough for Annika to take the picture. The heat is so intense that it feels as if someone is holding a blowtorch to your face. Literally.

[bgl]

At that time, people were very fortunate, because you were able to see (and get very close to) both surface flows like the ones above, AND see the lava flowing into the ocean. Here's Annika, with lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean in the background. On many occasions, there would be almost like a carnival atmosphere. Hundreds and hundreds of people would hike out there, typically just before it got dark, and then sit close to the ocean in a half circle for an hour or two and watch the ever changing lava go into the ocean. When there was a particularly spectacular event you could hear the entire crowd go "OOOHHHH"!

(Edit: and in case I didn't make this clear in the post above; today it is NOT possible to get close to any active lava flow. The area is completely out of reach, and it's illegal to attempt to hike out there. Needless to say, nobody knows for how long this current flow and the current situation will last. Could be a few more days, few more months, few more years. Anybody's guess!!)

[The Germinator]

Wow guys that looks dangerous.

[tropicalb]

I'm with you Ed.....looks a tad bit too dangerous for me to even think about attempting.

I have this slight aversion to being broiled alive.

[bgl]

Yeah, well, living dangerously is half the fun!  And you don't have to walk within 2-3 ft of the lava flow (when this area is open to the public)! Entirely optional!! And even when the area is closed off, you can always take the easy way out: a helicopter ride, which will definitely take you to areas that are completely off limit, at ALL times, to the public. I took this picture a year ago, when there were two different ocean entries, a couple of miles apart. This is one of them. From the air it's next to impossible to see the lava because of all the smoke that's created when the 2000F hot lava hits the ocean.

[bgl]

A couple of miles inland, there's a very unique place: Royal Gardens Subdivision. This subdivision was built on the slopes of this 2000 ft tall ridge, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, in January 1983 Kilauea Volcano erupted a couple of miles uphill and created a new eruption site, called Pu'u O'o. (Pu'u = hill and O'o is the name of a now extinct Hawaiian bird). The lava flows first came down on one side of the subdivision, and then on the other side, which is not good news if you happen to live there! This created what in Hawaiian is called a 'kipuka', and there MANY of those all over the place here. A kipuka is completely surrounded by lavaflows, which traps insects and other small critters there, and then (if you believe in evolution!) they actually evolve in their own little unique way - completely independent of how that species evolves in other places.

Anyway, the lava flows obviously cut off the the road to this place and it burned down ALL the houses EXCEPT this one (in the center of the photo). This house is now a bed & breakfast in one of the most unique locations you can possibly think of. I'm not sure if it's possible to drive a 4 wheel drive out there. I've heard people say you need to hike to get there (it's a couple of miles).