Last year when I went to the AMOS conference, I was bummed I was unable to get a permit tohike Haleakala for sunrise. Permits are always required to be up there for sunrise and only alimited number are availableand they become available 60 days in advance and go very quickly. So I set an alert on my calendar to notify me when it was time to go in and get my permit forthis year. That worked out and I secured one. I will not hide the fact that I did indeed do a happydance when I procured that!
So with permit secured, I started to get very excited about this excursion despite the fact that Iknew it would mean a very short night’s sleep! To get to the top of Halekala the drive will takebetween 1.5-2 hours so itmeans a middle of the night wakeup to make the journey. Since it’s 2-3am in the morning when you leave, that means there aren’t likely any coffee shops open soyou have to plan ahead to get your go go juice to get you going!
To be honest, Marissa and I were so excited the night before sunrise that we honestly couldn’tsleep well. We were hoping the weather was going to cooperate for a majestic view. So whenour alarms went off we hopped out of our beds to get dressed and out the door. Though it’sHawaii, since it’s the middle of the night and at a not insignificant altitude, it’s rather chilly atthe summit so we packed accordingly. We dressed in layers and included extra layers in the caras well as snacks and plenty of water.
The drive was very dark anda little dicey (especially when you’re doing it in the middle of thenight!) but we arrived to the main gate safely and checked in then continued the trek to the top.We pulled into the lot at the very top of Haleakala and lucked into the last spot available! (Noteto self–we will leave a little earlier next time!) We bundled up and ventured out of the car towhere the others were congregating.
The view straight overhead of the stars was amazing (and again I wished we’d gotten there evenearlier to enjoy more stargazing–lesson learned!) and then the view as the horizon started tolight up before the sun actually arrived was stunning. It reminded me of what it looks like asAstronauts circle the Earth as they are about to come back into the sun.
Honestly given the terrain around me, I wasn’t certain we hadn’t been transported to Mars! We stood in awe as the sky put on such a magnificent show and while there were clouds, they actually added to the beauty. We kept pinching ourselves saying we couldn’t believe that we are so fortunate to get to experience this!
And then that beautiful star that is closest to Earth popped up through the clouds in stunning fashion. We were transfixed taking in every moment. Now let’s be clear, I am NO photographer, so these photos don’t even begin to do it justice.
After sunrise most people left pretty quickly, I being the science and space geek that I am had to go check out the telescopes (from afar of course) that were also up here at the summit. This location offers the fourth best viewing conditions on the planet!
After I got my fill of geekiness in that aspect, we hopped back in the car to drive down just alittle ways to the visitor station at the trailhead down into the crater. At the visitor station there is a gift shop and restrooms but no food or drink so definitely plan ahead. (We had a backpack full of tons of water and snacks.)
We set off on the trail knowing that most people turn around after a mile or 2 to head back because unlike Mountain hiking where you do the hard part to start with (going up) and it’s easier going back (because you are going down), with the crater you start off going down so you must remember what goes down...must come back up!
The views were mesmerizing and ever changing. As the clouds changed the whole landscape did too. There isn’t much vegetation but the rock formations are absolutely incredible.
Let me HIGHLY suggest if you decide to do this hike in earnest wear hiking pants and hiking booths. The rock is a little challenging and you do NOT want that in your shoes. And much like watching sunrise...layers are your friend! Bring a proper backpack for hiking and be sure it is full of water because there is nowhere at all to get any while hiking. Sunglasses are a must! When the clouds go away it’s bright!
As you walk around, if you’re a space geek like me you won’t be able to help think that it looks an awful lot like another world...maybe Mars!
We trekked all the way to the base of the meteor crater and I will warn you - it IS a long way back up ... but so worth it! There are a variety of ways to do the hike so look into what option is best for you if you decide to go.
But remember, if you want to be at the summit for sunrise you'll need to secure your permit in advance!
https://www.nps.gov/haleplanyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm
Doing the whole down and back hike was strenuous so i's probably not for everyone. People have said the 1 or 2 miles is pretty easy in the scheme of things. I will tell you that for the challenge and the scenery we are thrilled we did as much as we did .... be we were worn out afterwards! but SO worth it!
Happy hiking!
