点评:One of the highlights of Haleakala is simply the drive to the summit as you go from sea level to 10,000 feet. It is an amazing climb with incredible views of the island of Maui as you can see nearly the entire island from the mountainside of Haleakala. I will totally say I was unprepared for how much of the island the one island mountain of Haleakala was and the views across the island it provided.
The beginning of the climb is steady on the main highway before you turn off for a road into neighborhoods. Soon you will again turn up the mountain to begin two long sets of switchbacks. Here you have sharps turns with elevation gains; however, the views around each bend get better and more expansive. Then you make a long drive to the east before turning into the park. Here the switchbacks appear again; however, this time you are now above the clouds, so the scenery is different but just as impressive.
While there are pictures on this attraction of the crater, you really can see inside the crater until you get to the top. However, what you do see the entire way are incredible views of Maui or of the clouds as they form around the mountain. The clouds were much more prevalent on the descent as we passed through them. Both ways the views are expansive as the natural cover is shrubs with no trees on the north and west sides of the rain shadow. Once you enter the park you will hardly see a tree until you exit.
Anyways it is a beautiful drive to Haleakala that also is active for the driver. I like this kind of driving, but I fully realize not everyone will like the hairpin switchbacks. Also, low drive gear is a must for your return, or you will burn out your brakes.
翻译:哈雷阿卡拉火山的一大亮点就是从海平面一路攀升至海拔10,000英尺(约3000米)的山顶。这是一段令人惊叹的攀登之旅,沿途可以饱览毛伊岛的壮丽景色,几乎可以俯瞰整个岛屿。说实话,我完全没有预料到哈雷阿卡拉这座独山竟能如此俯瞰整个岛屿,以及它所提供的如此开阔的视野。
攀登的开始是沿着主干道平稳行驶,之后会拐入一条通往居民区的道路。很快,你将再次驶上山坡,开始两段漫长的之字形弯道。这段路程弯道急促,海拔也随之升高;然而,每个弯道后的景色都更加壮丽开阔。之后,你将向东行驶很长一段路,然后进入公园。在这里,之字形弯道再次出现;不过,这一次你已经身处云层之上,所以景色虽然有所不同,但同样令人叹为观止。
虽然这个景点有一些火山口的照片,但只有到达山顶才能真正看到火山口内部的景象。然而,沿途你看到的都是令人叹为观止的茂宜岛美景,或是环绕山峦的云雾缭绕。下山时,云层更为浓密,我们穿过云层时更是目不暇接。无论去程还是回程,视野都十分开阔,因为雨影区的北侧和西侧只有灌木丛遮蔽,没有树木。一旦进入公园,直到离开公园,你几乎都看不到树木。
总之,前往哈雷阿卡拉火山的这段路程风景优美,对驾驶员来说也颇具挑战性。我喜欢这种驾驶方式,但我完全理解并非每个人都喜欢这种急弯。此外,返程时务必使用低速挡,否则刹车片会很快磨损。