Hale Pohaku Pit Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Volcanic pit crater east of Hale Pohaku on Mauna Kea.
Hale Pohaku - house of stone, is a structure first built for hunters on Mauna Kea. If you want to see the original structures they are just below the modern housing the astronomy community stays in while on the mountain.
The cache at 9300 feet elevation (2834 meters) is a pit crater east of HP. A pit crater is where erupting hot lava rapidly fell back into earth leaving a smooth walled and sometimes very deep hole. There may or may not be ejecta near the opening. This one has enough to form a small cone shape. The pit walls are maybe 10 feet in diameter. I have not been down to the bottom yet to see if the walls open into an inverted cone. Someday.
Years ago, a tour operater lowered six guests into the pit - only two could make it out. One in the bottom was a pregnant, diabetic women. It took rescue until midnight to get them all safely out.
This cache can be dangerous. DO NOT get to close to the opening, the drop is near 80ft (24 meters). The cache is NOT in the pit - although I thought about it.
The hike is not far but tough. Lava strewn terrain makes walking treacherous. Wear good boots and wear gloves. Don't try to sight-see or look at your GPS while walking - you will get hurt. Also, the weather can change rapidly so be prepared for cold, rain, and poor visibility.
You can begin your hike from the Visitor Information Station or take the R1 Road until your GPS points at a right angle from the road. Good luck, be safe.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Cvg va sebag bs cvg.