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slipping while moving too quickly, and I suggest you learn from my mistake. Give yourself an hour for each mile you have to cover. This may seem very slow, but even with all my experience, I can't even maintain 2 miles per hour on a long hike across lava - and I ordinarily walk at more than 4 miles per hour. It's especially important to take it slow when going downhill, to avoid falls.

5. Watch where you step. The predominant smooth "pahoehoe" lava is generally good for walking on, unlike the rough, jagged "a'a" lava. However, if you find yourself standing on rock that feels unstable, is warm to the touch, or sounds hollow... stand somewhere else. The terrain of the lava flow is very uneven, with mounds and broken pieces of rock. Try to find a path that's fairly flat, or steadily rises or falls, instead of going up and down repeatedly - your legs and feet will thank you.

6. Give hot lava space. You're not in a Will Smith movie. "Old and busted" lava is a lot safer than the "new hotness." In surface breakouts, Kilauea's lava moves slowly, and can easily be approached, but standing within a few feet of it will be uncomfortably hot. Try to avoid standing anywhere with hot lava on more than one side. You can probably get away with two sides, and three if you're particularly good, but having hot lava on all sides might be cause for ignoring rule number 1. Be especially careful if you hear popping sounds, as these indicate the hazard of gas explosions.

7. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Respect the "area closed" signs (the few people who die tend to be ones who didn't heed the signs). Respect the volcano itself - forces of nature are not to be trifled with. Don't take lava home with you - things can't be removed from national parks.

8. If you can, don't hike alone. Take a friend, or go as part of a guided group. "Safety in numbers" very much applies here, and the lava flow is a very large area with uneven terrain, so it's easy to find yourself in the middle of it without much of a view of distant landmarks. If you're really not much of a hiker, you can also get a helicopter or airplane tour from Hilo International Airport.

9. Remember mauka and makai. These Hawaiian words mean "toward the mountain" and "toward the ocean," respectively. If you start hiking out from Chain of Craters Road, as most people do, you'll have the ocean on your right and the mountain on your left. To get back, just keep the ocean on your left and the mountain on your right, and you won't get lost.

10. Get a good bag. If you're bringing a first aid kit, water, sunscreen, flashlights and probably a camera, it's probably a good idea to have a backpack, since you'll want your hands free to hold things. It may seem heavy with all your water in it, but by the end of the hike, you'll drink the water and sweat it out, thus making your bag lighter.

11. Don't be surprised by minor injuries. You're getting out alive, but not necessarily unscathed. The surface of cooled lava is a cross between glass and sandpaper, and minor cuts or scrapes aren't uncommon. Hiking can also lead to blisters. That's why you've brought the first-aid kit!

12. Bring a zoom lens and/or binoculars. For safety reasons, lava isn't always closely approachable. Distant activity is much more interesting when you can actually see what's happening.

So there you have it, then! Now I must be off - my hiking shoes are so worn down bits of lava get in through cracks and holes in the soles!

Learn more about this author, Dan Birchall.
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