01-06-2009, 11:30 AM
We have found that the best thing is to be at the viewing site (end of 130 - follow the signs) at least 1/2 hour before sundown (be here by 5:30 right now...) that way you are walking in with light... wear sturdy, comfy shoes (not slippahs.... as miss steps can happen & end up with body parts scrapping on lava... not nice!) bring a couple of not so big flashlights (we have used a range.... most of the time you are walking with a few hundred others, so a smaller light is fine...), keep them always aimed at the ground (can't tell you how many people shine them up into others eyes... if that happens to you, stop until you can see again..) gloves are something you will see the tourist bus people have.... good to have if you fall... but ours were always in our back pockets, so woulda only helped the keester...
you get 2 benefits from going before dark, you get to see the shore, the steam clouds & such & get to see the change as it gets dark... if you are lucky, there may be pyrotechnics in the steam clouds & a visible flow down the hill... sometimes there is not much, just a little glow, sometimes there are oozing or fire hydrants into the ocean...
If you have compact binoculars, they can be useful... camera too, if there are neat flows...
hours are usually 2-10 HOWEVER last one IN the viewing area is 8pm
enjoy!
you get 2 benefits from going before dark, you get to see the shore, the steam clouds & such & get to see the change as it gets dark... if you are lucky, there may be pyrotechnics in the steam clouds & a visible flow down the hill... sometimes there is not much, just a little glow, sometimes there are oozing or fire hydrants into the ocean...
If you have compact binoculars, they can be useful... camera too, if there are neat flows...
hours are usually 2-10 HOWEVER last one IN the viewing area is 8pm
enjoy!