Hot tips for visiting a volcano
Having a Plan B is critical, one expert says.
You can learn a lot about travel from a volcano. That’s what Rick Hazlett, a volcanologist and professor emeritus of environmental analysis and geology at Pomona College, will tell you – and he’s right.
Hazlett led one of the response teams during last spring’s volcanic eruption in Hawaii. His group coordinated with civil defense and law enforcement to help keep residents safe from Kilauea’s erupting fissures and lava flows.
What can a shield volcano in the middle of the Pacific teach you about being a better traveler? Plenty, says Hazlett.
Want to travel like a volcanologist? Have a backup plan
Maybe you saw the videos of Hazlett calmly talking about Kilauea while the volcano spewed steam and lava behind him. I wanted to know how he managed to keep his cool.
“You have to have a Plan B,” he told me. “I kept a map of the street grid in my head. Once I got a handle on the geography and became comfortable with a location, I wasn’t worried. I knew that new vents wouldn’t open up outside a certain predictable zone.”
Still, Hazlett and his team always had a backup plan – just in case. They kept in mind all available escape routes in the event the lava flow took an unexpected turn.
Having a Plan B also is important when you’re on the road, and Hazlett has been on the road researching in many remote areas.
“Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands,” he remembers. “On a clear day, the Aleutians is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But when the fog and stormy weather roll in, you can get grounded in one place for days at a time.”
Once, Hazlett was stuck tent-bound on Unalaska Island for three days while researching Makushin Volcano in Alaska. That’s when he learned the importance of packing a good book – and a lot of patience.
Redundant communication helps you travel better
Kilauea also taught Hazlett and his team about the importance of effective communication. During the volcanic eruption, the geologists relied on an open-source messaging app to communicate. But there were a few problems with the program, which relied on cellular technology. The south side of Hawaii didn’t have reliable coverage.
“It also had a spell-checker,” says Hazlett. “It didn’t do well with Hawaiian names.”
Although he eventually figured out a way to disable the spell-checker, the team continued to be challenged communicating, even though they had redundant systems that included radios and tracking technology.
“If you can’t communicate easily or continuously, it adds to the stress,” he says.
That wisdom doesn’t only apply to driving through endangered subdivisions, trying to avoid new fissures, flowing lava and the choking gases they emit. It also applies to more mundane car and plane trips, where communicating with your travel companions can make the difference between a great trip and a disaster.
More volcano travel tips
❚ Where’s the volcano? Kilauea, a volcano on the southeastern coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, roared to life on April 30, 2018, when the floor of the Puu Oo Crater in the east rift zone suddenly collapsed, and continued erupting through the middle of summer.
The volcano is still active but quieter as recovery efforts continue.
❚ Get up close. The best way to see it is by visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a short drive from Hilo (nps.gov/havo). Check at the visitors’ center for for a free 45minute guided tour of the volcano, and then take a short walk to view the caldera from various overlooks.