Hiking in Haleakala

Today, Sat 30 Aug, Jason and I were transported to another planet. We took a trip to Haleakala, the US National Park, to view the massive and breathtaking volcano crater like basin measuring 7.5 miles wide and 3000 feet in depth. After the 2 hour drive traveling up approximately 9000 feet in elevation through the clouds and hair pin sharp curves we arrived at the summit. We hiked along the Sliding Sands Trail easily about 1 mile down into the crater. A group of juvenile nene birds (Hawaii's state and endangered bird) crossed our path. The views were surreal and beautiful, an endless horizon of rainbow earth tone colors on the crater floor engulfed in intermittent clouds. According to the Lonely Planet guidebook, Mark Twain visited Haleakala and praised it for its healing solitude. Jason could relate. We stopped often to listen to the silence. The hike back up to the summit was, of course, more intense, but we made it with a little huffing and puffing. Tomorrow is slated as a full day of snorkeling, with so many beaches to choose from it will be hard to decide where to go.