Category talk:Mount Kilauea

From BearWiki

Aloha,

I'm the author of "Re: Man vs Wild, Bear Grylls is a phony" and "Man vs Wild: Faking it in Kilauea." Both currently on youtube.com

I just want to share a few observations.

It would be illegal to cut tree ferns and set fires in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. So he either did it illegally in the national park or he did it outside the park. It may be illegal in state forests also. The terrain in the tropical forest shown is flat. No such forest exists in a line between Pu'u O'o and the ocean near his destination at the end of Highway 130 on the east side of the lava fields.. There is a small forest surrounding the abandoned Royal Gardens Subdivision, but it is in a steep incline on the slopes of the cliff known as Pulama Pali

The lava tube is absolutely not in the area between Pu'u O'o and the ocean. I have explored that area many times. It is mostly barren lava with a few islands of forest. The area shown is flat, so it is not in the forest surrounding the Royal Gardens Subdivision.

The television video does not show him climbing down Pulama Pali which can be very steep and has an elevation gain of about 2000 feet. I speculate that they did most of the hot lava shots near the ocean and never actually climbed down from Pu'u O'o which is at about the 2500 foot elevation at its base. Pu'u O'o is clearly visible for many miles on the flats above Pulama Pali. The ocean is also visible from the top and all the way down to the base of Pulama Pali so there should not have been a big mystery of which way to go to find the ocean on a clear day. The steam plume from the ocean entry of the lava flow is also clearly visible from most areas between Pu'u O'o and the ocean. It would have been a dead give away of where the ocean is. I can submit photographs.

I am familiar with the area around Pu'u O'o and do not recall the small crater in which he was dropped off. I would assume that they would show Pu'u O'o with a wide shot if it were near it.

I have personally walked on very hot lava just minutes after it crusted over. My boots have never burst into flames. The rubber soles will start melting and get slippery, but never burn. It looks like somebody soaked his boot with lighter fluid and threw in a match.

I have a few other observations for later.

Thanks, volcanochaser

Thank you very much -- and once again, great video. I'll probably make your observations into one or more articles; things like this deserve to be given more prominence. Yes, a picture of the steam plume would be great; I'd make an article on the page about the poor quality of his advice concerning "Finding the ocean on Kilauea". -- Rei 10:47, 14 August 2007 (CDT)

Oh, also -- if you wouldn't mind, if you could fill out your user page (when logged in, your username is on the bar in the upper right hand side of the screen -- click there) just briefly listing your credentials (say, "X years as a vulcanologist for Y University or government agency / Z years as a local resident...", or so forth) -- and, even better, a way for someone to confirm them (for example, a link to the website of where you work that lists you, or whatnot). Having this info available will make your statements have all the more weight. If it's too much work, don't worry about it.  :)

By the way -- when logged in, you can automatically sign posts like this: ~~~~

Again, thanks for the information! -- Rei 14:09, 14 August 2007 (CDT)

Update: Thanks for the pics and references. I've put the pictures in their respective articles. Once again, I really appreciate it! -- Rei 11:09, 15 August 2007 (CDT)

Hello,

Never worked with a WIKI, so, just adding this here. Somebody could add this properly if they feel it has some value. The video volcanochaser (nice one!) put up is becoming a hit. A guy spotted a CAR and what looks like a HUMAN on the Bear video!

The pic can be found here: "As for the "farthest fringes of the Earth part"...Although the Discovery footage in that YT video sucks for clarity, I believe it actually shows a vehicle and at least one person in the background so I don't think it was meant to show him being in the middle of nowhere.

EDIT: Added pic http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/34709834/m/619004176831/p/2

Cheers, Officer

Great find, Officer! I'll put that in the article. -- Rei 10:47, 14 August 2007 (CDT)

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