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Volcanic rift in the middle of someone's farm. This is near my home.
February 4, 2002. 11:29:31 AM.
Altitude: 2968 feet (905 meters)

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Closeup of the volcanic rift in the middle of someone's farm. This is near my home.
February 4, 2002. 11:30:56 AM.
Altitude: 2964 feet (903 meters)

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Frequent roadcuts at the switchbacks make blind corners on the descent. Here a car is passing me on the way up.
February 4, 2002. 12:39:31 PM.
Altitude: 5047 feet (1538 meters)

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Command central on my bike.
February 4, 2002. 1:01:46 PM.
Altitude: 5728 feet (1746 meters)

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Near the top of the clouds, I can begin to see the summit area.
February 4, 2002. 1:15:55 PM.
Altitude: 6078 feet (1853 meters)

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Seconds later, clouds enter this gulley from below me.
February 4, 2002. 1:16:07 PM.
Altitude: 6078 feet (1853 meters)

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At the edge of the cloud mass, you can see down to the north coast of East Maui, and the ocean.
February 4, 2002. 1:32:30 PM.
Altitude: 6436 feet (1962 meters)

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Stands of conifers and other nonnative trees just below the national park entrance.
February 4, 2002. 1:33:12 PM.
Altitude: 6436 feet (1962 meters)

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Just read the sign. Not applicable today though.
February 4, 2002. 2:25:09 PM.
Altitude: 7521 feet (2292 meters)

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Native shrub, with the peak of West Maui in the background, peeking above the clouds.
February 4, 2002. 2:50:36 PM.
Altitude: 8086 feet (2464 meters)

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Small tree having a rough time of it. The background shows the north coast, with conifer forest in the middle zone.
February 4, 2002. 2:51:03 PM.
Altitude: 8086 feet (2464 meters)

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Beautiful West Maui revealed itself more and more as I ascended. Moloka`i island is visible in the far background, to the right of West Maui.
February 4, 2002. 3:08:26 PM.
Altitude: 8485 feet (2586 meters)

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Looking up Haleakala from the same position as the previous photo.
February 4, 2002. 3:09:12 PM.
Altitude: 8485 feet (2586 meters)

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West Maui seen from a setting of volcanic rock and native shrubs.
February 4, 2002. 3:33:49 PM.
Altitude: 9014 feet (2748 meters)

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February 4, 2002. 3:34:57 PM.
Altitude: 9014 feet (2748 meters)

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February 4, 2002. 3:45:00 PM.
Altitude: 9142 feet (2787 meters)

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In this vertical shot, we can see that the vegetation is really thinning out at this elevation.
February 4, 2002. 3:46:19 PM.
Altitude: 9142 feet (2787 meters)

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The facilities of Science City (at the summit) are visible in the center of this photograph. This means I'm getting close to the top.
February 4, 2002. 3:47:38 PM.
Altitude: 9142 feet (2787 meters)

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This is what this fool rode up here to see. Haleakala Crater.
February 4, 2002. 4:25:31 PM.
Altitude: 9885 feet (3013 meters)

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The background shows a slice of the Big Island: Mauna Kea with its snowy peak.
February 4, 2002. 4:26:14 PM.
Altitude: 9885 feet (3013 meters)

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Here's a portrait of my shadow with the shadow of a Silversword plant. You can see the Silversword itself, too. The background is the far rim of Haleakala Crater.
February 4, 2002. 4:35:21 PM.
Altitude: 10038 feet (3060 meters)

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Here you can see four of the five volcanos that make up the Big Island. The three obvious ones are, from left to right, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalai. Look at the short one in front of Mauna Kea! There is 5577 foot Kohala, the oldest of the Big Island's volcanos.

I wanted to live on the Big Island for four years, before choosing Maui for practical reasons (which is not to say that I'm disappointed with Maui). The Big Island still has a special place in my heart, and I get shivers every time I see it for the first time on each trip up here. Some day I'll have to buy myself a plane ticket and visit it.
February 4, 2002. 4:40:01 PM.
Altitude: 10077 feet (3072 meters)

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A happy couple wondering how it can be so cold in Hawaii.
February 4, 2002. 4:41:06 PM.
Altitude: 10079 feet (3072 meters)

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Me relaxing after my second trip all the way up by bike.
February 4, 2002. 4:46:18 PM.
Altitude: 10088 feet (3075 meters)