Hiking up Diamond Head Crater with Tom and Tigris, 2003.11.05

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On Wednesday of my November 2003 visit to O'ahu to visit Tigris and Tom, after a morning at the flea market, the three of us went to Diamond Head Crater and hiked up the trail, which leads up the inside of the rim to an observation post about 500ft above the crater floor, with a spectacular view of the ocean and of Waikīkī. It was quite an energetic hike (at least for me); the last quarter or so is mostly stairs. It was the most fun I'd had on that visit, and I hope to go back the next time I go to O'ahu.

To hike up Diamond Head, you drive through a tunnel into the center of the crater, and hike up a zigzaggy trail up the inside rim. About 2/3 of the way up, there's a flight of steps leading to a pedestrian tunnel, and then a spiral staircase that leads to an observation platform at the top.

According to a placard at the start of the trail, the crater is made of tuff, a soft rock formed from volcanic ash and microscopic particles thrown up by eruptions. (This is very different from the lava that forms the vast lava plains on the Big Island.)

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

The start of the path. (The building to the right has restrooms.)

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tom and Tigris starting up the path. Note the burnt trees.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tom and Tigris enjoying the scenery.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

An observation post atop a peak in the distance, with burnt trees and newer brush in the foreground.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Close-up of some cactus.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

The path, flanked by burnt trees, with sunlight from behind the clouds.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tigris sitting on a bench, with burnt trees behind her.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Me with Tigris on a bench.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Me with Tom on a bench.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Burnt trees. There was a sign saying "High danger of brush fires." Tom said if you didn't know that without being told, you shouldn't be allowed outside. :-)

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Burnt trees. There was a sign saying "High danger of brush fires." Tom said if you didn't know that without being told, you shouldn't be allowed outside. :-)

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tom and Tigris resting on an accidental bench in the stone wall.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

The inside of the crater in sunlight. The path meanders across the picture; you can see some other hikers on the left.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tom at an overlook along the path.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tom and Tigris admiring the scenery at an overlook.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

The crater rim, with the ocean behind it.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Observation posts on a couple of peaks below us, seen against the ocean.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

A mysterious piece of machinery at a scenic overlook.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Me at a scenic overlook. Tom held the camera over his head to take this.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

The wall of the crater. As a sign at the start of the trail informs us, the crater is made up of a soft rock called tuff, formed from volcanic ash and fine particles spewed out by volcanic eruptions. (This is quite different from the lava that forms the vast lava plains on the Big Island.)

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tigris, me, and Tom sitting on a bench at a scenic rest area along the path. I had the camera on a timer. If a human had been looking through it, maybe that sign wouldn't be growing out of my head.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Looking down on a lighthouse from about two-thirds of the way up the crater. I think the pale shapes just visible under the water are coral reefs.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

An observation post on a nearby peak, with downtown Waikiki behind it, with some of the beach visible.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tom and Tigris at the peak. I said, "Tigris, say something funny again so Tom will look at you and laugh," and this is the picture I got. Not bad.

2003_11_05-15_34_35.jpg
Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Observation posts on a couple of peaks below us, with the water behind them. (I'd previously taken pictures of these same peaks from a point about even with their tops.)

2003_11_05-15_34_49.jpg
Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

The shore and ocean, seen from the peak of Diamond Head, with a few buildings and palm trees by the water.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Me looking out at the ocean from the top of Diamond Head.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tigris at the observation platform at the top of the crater.

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Tom silhouetted at the end of a tunnel as we went back down. (There's a tunnel you walk through near the top of the crater rim, preceded and followed by lots of steps.)

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Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

Some of the steps we ascended (and descended). There's a spiral staircase near the top that's probably a little shorter than this, and a couple other much shorter flights.

2003_11_05-16_03_33.jpg
Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05.

The trail, with rock face to the right and a sunlit peak ahead of us.

Index produced by thumb.tcl, strongly inspired by Jef Poskanzer's thumbnail_index.

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	2003_11_05-14_10_45.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. The start of the path. (The building to the right has restrooms.) Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_25_31.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tom and Tigris starting up the path. Note the burnt trees. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_26_14.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tom and Tigris enjoying the scenery. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_28_23.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. An observation post atop a peak in the distance, with burnt trees and newer brush in the foreground. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_36_04.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Close-up of some cactus. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_36_26.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. The path, flanked by burnt trees, with sunlight from behind the clouds. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_38_57.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tigris sitting on a bench, with burnt trees behind her. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_39_37.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Me with Tigris on a bench. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_40_04.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Me with Tom on a bench. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_42_49.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Burnt trees. There was a sign saying "High danger of brush fires." Tom said if you didn't know that without being told, you shouldn't be allowed outside. :-) Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_43_00.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Burnt trees. There was a sign saying "High danger of brush fires." Tom said if you didn't know that without being told, you shouldn't be allowed outside. :-) Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_48_09.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tom and Tigris resting on an accidental bench in the stone wall. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_55_22.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. The inside of the crater in sunlight. The path meanders across the picture; you can see some other hikers on the left. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-14_56_00.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tom at an overlook along the path. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_00_03.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tom and Tigris admiring the scenery at an overlook. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_01_09.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. The crater rim, with the ocean behind it. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_01_34.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Observation posts on a couple of peaks below us, seen against the ocean. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_02_07.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. A mysterious piece of machinery at a scenic overlook. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_04_17.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Me at a scenic overlook. Tom held the camera over his head to take this. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_04_48.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. The wall of the crater. As a sign at the start of the trail informs us, the crater is made up of a soft rock called tuff, formed from volcanic ash and fine particles spewed out by volcanic eruptions. (This is quite different from the lava that forms the vast lava plains on the Big Island.) Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_12_24-crop.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tigris, me, and Tom sitting on a bench at a scenic rest area along the path. I had the camera on a timer. If a human had been looking through it, maybe that sign wouldn't be growing out of my head. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_24_01.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Looking down on a lighthouse from about two-thirds of the way up the crater. I think the pale shapes just visible under the water are coral reefs. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_29_37.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. An observation post on a nearby peak, with downtown Waikiki behind it, with some of the beach visible. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_33_44.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tom and Tigris at the peak. I said, "Tigris, say something funny again so Tom will look at you and laugh," and this is the picture I got. Not bad. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_34_35.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Observation posts on a couple of peaks below us, with the water behind them. (I'd previously taken pictures of these same peaks from a point about even with their tops.) Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_34_49.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. The shore and ocean, seen from the peak of Diamond Head, with a few buildings and palm trees by the water. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_39_06.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Me looking out at the ocean from the top of Diamond Head. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_39_41.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tigris at the observation platform at the top of the crater. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_51_02.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Tom silhouetted at the end of a tunnel as we went back down. (There's a tunnel you walk through near the top of the crater rim, preceded and followed by lots of steps.) Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-15_53_18.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. Some of the steps we ascended (and descended). There's a spiral staircase near the top that's probably a little shorter than this, and a couple other much shorter flights. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.
	2003_11_05-16_03_33.jpg Jay's trip to O'ahu, November 2003. Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, 2003.11.05. The trail, with rock face to the right and a sunlit peak ahead of us. Copyright (c) 2003 by Jay Sekora. All rights reserved.