Lava - does it eat your shoes?
 

Someone posted a message earlier that during their visit of VNP on Big Island, the lava ruined their hiking boots.

Does this apply to "old" lava flows? Or, just currently flowing lava? I'm visiting in a couple weeks with kids, and don't want to risk ruining my shoes when I don't have another pair with me on a hike?

Also, they said it's slippery and if you fall it cuts you like glass. Again, does this apply to old lava flows?

Plan to try and see lava flowing, but don't want to risk getting to close, not with kids.

Well, currently flowing lava will do more than eat your shoes.

But I think you are referring to hiking on lava fields, and not currently flowing lava. Some lava fields are not smooth, but are vast expanses of loose, broken lava rock, called a`a. Smoother lava is called pahoehoe. A`a can be very sharp and because the a`a is loose, you have to be careful of your footing as you go. A`a can eat up the tread on a pair of tennins shoes in no time. Pahoehoe can be very slippery, but it is smooth, not sharp and jagged like the a`a.

I heard today that the lava has reached the ocean again for an ocean entry. That is a sight not to be missed. I have hiked over the lava many times from the end of Chain of Craters road to view the lava in my tennis shoes and it hasn't ate them yet. Have a great time!

The old lava is razor sharp I never take boots I care about here.

In terms of the new lava? It is all pretty new. You know you don't want the wet stuff that eats through iron. A couple was killed a number of years ago trying to sail down the flow. Poor park rangers they had to field the mess of stupid people.

There are people that have gotten 3rd degree burns just putting there hands in the surrounding water.

The couple was sailing the flow in an iron tub

Army has to replace boots often if ever they come into contact with these lava fields. One friend stationed on Oahu tells me anyway. I have noticed wear on my timberland boots from one day.

Sond like candidates for the Darwin Awards

Sarah - Not just Darwin Award candidates, more like Darwin Award Hall of Famers.

Ken

We used tennis shoes in March 2003, and walked ~30 minutes right up to the oozing lava flows without any foot wear problems and highly recommend it. Many children were present as were two rangers and a barrier to stop people from getting too close. Here is a link with gear and lava info:<font color="blue">http://www.nps.gov/havo/visitor/lava.htm
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