More from Haleakala

Anyone for some cloud walking? You better be really light on your feet!

Did I mention that the summit of Haleakala is way up there? If you were measuring the mountain from it's base deep in the Pacific ocean to it's summit, Haleakala would be the tallest mountain in the world, measuring in at over 32,000 feet tall!

Once you are at the top of Haleakala you can take one of the hiking trails, some of which can push the limits of an old man like myself. You have to remember that you are at 10,000 feet above sea level. One of the hiking trails is called the Sliding Sands Trail. This trail is about four miles long and descends into the crater at the summit. The descent is over 2000 feet in elevation. Just remember that you are hiking and you will have to go back UP that 2000 feet to get back to your car!

If hiking isn't your thing then you could take a bike tour down the volcano. There are several companies that will drive you to the summit in one of their vans, put you on a bicycle and send you down hill for a pretty exhilerating ride. Sounds nice doesn't it? Taking a roller coaster ride on a bike from 10,000 feet up. It is until you remember that the road going up and down the side of the mountain is made up of many, many switchbacks, some of which have an uphill leg to them even though you are going down hill. Plan on doing some pretty hefty peddling in some spots.

Personally, I'm a get a massage at the spa and drink a beer kind of guy. I go on vacation to relax, I don't want to work too hard at anything while I'm there. Driving up and down the side of the volcano was all the work I wanted. You may think the drive in a car isn't work but with a constant barrage of thrill seekers on bicycles coming at you on the way up it can be pretty challenging!

There are several other things you can do on Haleakala. It is after all Hawaii and if it is legal, there is a company that offers it. You can ride one of the trails on horseback, you can take an organized tour trip to see the sunrise (or go by yourself), you can go in the middle of the night and watch the University of Hawaii shoot lazers at the moon from one of the observatories (they are using the lazers to hit reflectors placed on the moon so they can measure the continental drift).

Or, if you are there to relax and be lazy, you can just drive up and take some photos like I did.