Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1915 — Up a Hawaiian Volcano [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Up a Hawaiian Volcano

CLIMBING the volcanic mountains of Hawaii is one of the greatest pleasures of tourists who remain any length of time in the islands. Owing to the fact that some of these volcanoes are by no means extinct, the ascent is Often exciting and sometimes rather dangerous. Very, recently Mauna Loa was ascended by Dr. A. S. Baker of Kealakekau and Rev. A. C. Bowdish of Paia. In spite of the light and smoke which proclaimed the fact that the volcano was in eruption again after a silence of seven years, it was a decidedly chilly and forbidding reception which awaited them as they came to the top of the once more active mountain. The snow is abundant one and a half miles down the sides from the crater, and the wind is saturated with a cold and dampness which penetrates even .heavy clothing. The second day out the explorers came within fifty feet of the crater immediately after sundown, struggling along through the heavy snow, but they were forced to descend at once below the snow line to find a camping place. Even though they hastened back down on the same trail, it was intensely dark before they could pause. Here during the night the thermometer registered 21 degrees, a temperature which was made much worse by the strong north wind that swept across the unbroken lava field.

Climbing Exhaust* the Mule*. During the night Doctor Baker was quite sick and incapable of further effort But it was determined that an early start for the top be made by Mr. Bowdish and the younger guide. The mules were quite exhausted with their two days of work, closing with the supreme effort of the night before, and were scarcely rested for another effort when it was by no means sure that they could get through to the rim of the crater. It is a constant rise to the very edge of the great cavity. Mr. Bowdish and the guide felt well repaid tor their daring' attempt to cross that barrier of.snow, for they saw one cone still active, throwing lava up 150 feet or more, while near by was a "bowl'’ that was boiling, splashing lava to the height of 50 feet or more. Just beyond these to the south was a narrow line of fire where a stream of lava had not fully cooled on the surface. There was smoke issuing at a dozen or more places in comparatively small volumes, but no fire was visible or other cones in sight. The whole floor was a vast black surface with practically no unevenness, barring the chilled walls of 4ava streams apparently no longer active. " '

The active cone was from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet high, and the display of white-hot lava was like the illumination of a gigantic "flower pot" in fireworks. The lava was thrown up three times the distance of the height of the cone above its crest. The lava lost its color before it reached the highest point and became black against the blanket of snow which was on the slope of the farther side of the erater. Except for this relatively small slope all that the party could see from their location was perpendicular walls on all sides. - > Trail Through Lava Flows. The party required two days to make the ascent and a half day les* for the return, during the short winter days. They had had no bad weather except a drizzling rain the first afternoon and night TJiis dear weather was indeed fortunate, for the complicated trail must be followed to avoid the later flows of lava, like great clinkers, which are impassable few animals and must be avoided. For 25 miles or more the unbroken billows and cross streams of black lava are Irregularly covered by Ine .later and impassable flows, making a labyrinth of the trail which only the initiated can follow.

For hours the trail was up and up over level after level of the unending lava. Glimpses of the snow-crowned peak led one to believe that it was not far distant. Then perhaps after another hour of climbing up from one level to another apparently the top was farther away than ever. And the long detour around the impassable places grew wearisome in the extreme. The party was under the guidance of the Gaspars, who have in the past so successfully piloted large and small parties to the top. Doctor Baker and Mr. Bowdish both feel that the chances run during an ascent in the winter months amount to great hazard because of the vast miles of unbroken lava which a mist or storm would render terra incognita and the constant danger of falling into holes or of breaking through the crust —contingencies which could not bo guarded against As it was, Mr. Bowdish’s mule twice broke through, once causing him to be thrown off.