Volcanoes > Mauna Loa by ted Brattstrom

Canon PowerShot SX110 IS

Welcome to the worlds largest mountain and volcano - Mauna Loa!!! It may seem un-impressive, however it is 4169 meters high (13,679ft). Being a shield volcano, the slope is very gentle, but sustained. It does snow at the summit most winters. Often it stays for a few days, occasionally for weeks and months. Not ski-able, for that you'll have to go over to Mauna Kea.

To hike to the top, plan on 2 to 3 days. Spend a night at about 3000 meters (Red Hill or part way to the NOAA observatory) - then to the summit (stay in the shelter for the night) - then back down.

Mauna Loa is considered to be an active volcano - it last erupted in 1984. Since it has erupted, on average, every 15 or so years, we are waiting. (There have been no seismic signals of any approaching eruption, so it won't be anytime soon)

This panorama is taken from about 1000m on Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. So the vertical change is about 3000m - and the visible top is about 28.5km away.

It is fairly easy to see where one section of the park boundary is :-)

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauna_Loa 
Webcam at the summit: volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/MLcam /