Back up the mountain

From Karin:

Last week, while our friends were still here, we went back up all 10, 023 feet of Haleakala to spend the day exploring.  From our house it takes about 1.5 hours (actually 2 if you include the stop for coffee and croissants in Kula) to get up there and, once again, we were entranced by the continually changing landscape and climate during the drive.  We left the house on a warm and sunny day and eventually entered the clouds as we gained altitude.  By the time we reached the lower visitor's center, we needed the headlights and wipers on....you get to the point where you can't imagine there will be anything to see.  And then, before you know it, you come out of the clouds, completely above them, where it's a beautiful, but much cooler, day.  We were able to do a short hike near the upper visitor's center with the kids and had our picnic lunch at the summit.  It was a wonderful day, the kids were great and it was also really fun to share it with our friends since they were seeing everything for the first time.  Peter and I hope to go back up one more time to watch the sunrise, a must do on the Maui visitors' list.  This is an intriguing idea.... to knowingly disrupt your kids' sleep and entire next day to sit in 40 degree weather just to watch the sunrise.  Hmmm.  Some might consider this questionable parenting, but we're going for it.  It's not like we have to get up and go to work the next day, right?  :)

The view of West Maui as we drove up.  Still haven't reached the park entrance (or the clouds) yet!

The boys wanted to "eat the clouds" so we HAD to stop.

Helping the ranger collect weather data at the lower visitor's center.  By the end of the day, both boys had learned enough by meeting with park rangers to become "Citizen Scientists".  Davis will show his badge when we get home.  It's pretty serious stuff....he can tell you that the volcano is big, the rocks are black and it's windy there.

Emerging from the clouds, back into a sunny day, but only about 55 degrees.  This is us in our very fancy 2011 Ford Escape.  We downsized from our minivan once all the grandparents left so we're saving some money on gas (it's now $4.98/gallon) but it's making me want to upgrade our Escape when we get home.  Peter says no.  Boo.

The boys (including Carter in the Baby Bjorn) climbing to the rim of the crater.

Alice did it too!  "No, Mommy, by self Mommy!"  She would not let Kristine help her in any way.

One of the views into the crater.  It's impossible to capture...it's 3,000 feet deep, 7.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.  Manhattan could fit in there!

Sliding Sands Trail down into the crater for hiking, camping, climbing, horseback riding, etc.  Probably not something we'll attempt with the boys, although I was standing there actually contemplating how the jogging stroller would handle.

Kristine and I on top of the world.  Watch for this photo in the next edition of the Bucknell alumni magazine.

Shaka from the toppa'!