Hardest Backpacking Trip in Hawaii - Mauna Loa

In this episode "Backpacking Mauna Loa" I am pursuing another Hawaii 100 Highest Peak. My 42nd high peak Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano in the world. I planned a 3-day backpacking trip to the top to fully experience the beauty and uniqueness of this mountain.
Join me for a beautiful hike on Big Island Hawaii around this huge volcano!
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Gear we use for filming:
Panasonic S5 with Panasonic 20-60mm Lens
Sigma 28-70mm Lens
GO Pro 9 Black Edition
DJI Phantom 4 Advanced
DJI Mini2
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You can find me here too:
Webpage: www.hungaro-ex...
Instagram: / hungaroexplorer
Facebook: / hungaroexplorer
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Backpacking Mauna Loa | Hawaii's 100 Highest Peaks
• Hardest Backpacking Tr...
#hungaroexplorer #maunaloa #hikehawaii

[@HungaroExplorer]

Have you hiked Mauna Loa before? If yes, do you prefer the one day summiting or backpacking?

[@HungaroExplorer]

Oh well, you can’t help laziness😜

[@pauldill8368]

I hiked the summit from the observatory (out and back), then drove to Onizuka center and hiked the Mauna Kea summit. 30 mi day. It was tough. 😂 Haven’t tried coming up the backside like you guys did. That looks like a fun route.

[@HungaroExplorer]

Oh wow, that sounds like a “Mauna to Mauna” way to do it. Good job on that! You should try this route if you ever have time. It is worth it!

[@pikiwiki]

I think it is a big mistake not to stay the night and see the stars

[@HungaroExplorer]

@pikiwiki The stars are very nice after the sunset. We saw them from both cabins. Amazing!

[@manvillea]

Congratulations on the summit! Lava Rocks are tough and even rougher on footware. The sharp edges can tear up a pair of boots in no time. Well done to you and your crew!

[@HungaroExplorer]

Thank You! Yeah, those 3 days in “ Lava Land” aged our shoe pretty bad :)). But it was worth it!

[@BryanJordanMusic]

I’ve always wanted to do this hike. It looks rough, but amazing! I’ve always loved that stark landscape, it’s so surreal.

[@HungaroExplorer]

Bryan, you have to go and do it! It’s touhgh because the elevation and the wndless lava landscapes but at the smae time it is an amazing experience!

[@arnaudvilliard2008]

Thank you for the rare sights

[@HungaroExplorer]

I am glad I could share this unique experience.

[@BenHinders]

Another epic film, mate!

[@HungaroExplorer]

Thanks mate!

[@kmschwem]

Best Hawaii footage I’ve seen.

[@HungaroExplorer]

Big Mahalo! 🤙🏻

[@rarebird2024]

your videography is of the highest caliber! love to watch.

[@HungaroExplorer]

Thank You Zoey! It makes me happy to hear that ☺️

[@HawaiiJapan808]

your the man!

[@HungaroExplorer]

💪🤙🏻

[@shyhi4695]

Enjoyed viewing your adventure. Great accomplishment and satisfaction! Congratulations! And realizing your footprints are still fresh as our volcano flows …so😎

[@HungaroExplorer]

Mahalo! Yes, it was an amazing adventure and a great accomplishment. We were so lucky that Mauna Loa welcomed us and showed us it’s beauty. Now it goes through some transformation but will come back new and fresh soon :)

[@pikiwiki]

it's a break in the lava that gets you out of the wind

[@HungaroExplorer]

Yepp, good call!

[@nalukeaa]

I live just minutes from the Mauna Loa rd. I do plan one day to hike this trail! I absolutely enjoyed your video. Mahalo for sharing🤍

[@HungaroExplorer]

Mahalo! Yes, Mauna Loa is a beautiful place with a lot of mana around. You should definitely do the hike. You will look at the mountain on a different way afterwards🤙🏻

[@angelasills3091]

Beautiful video!! Thanks for sharing

[@HungaroExplorer]

Thank You Angela!☺️

[@bigislandoutdoorlife1489]

Did this one when there was lots of snow had pooka crevasses the snow drifts over the a'a. Definitely stay on trail when it's snowy!

[@HungaroExplorer]

I thought about how it would be with snow cover but snowdrifts over a’a sounds nasty :D I definitely want to go back, curious how it looks after the erruption.

[@bigislandoutdoorlife1489]

@@HungaroExplorer find me next time your on the big. I'm a hunter / hiker / back country explorer. I can show you some good lands and it's nice to have a partner that can put the miles down. Aloha good video bradda!

[@HungaroExplorer]

@bigislandoutdoorlife1489 That would be great! Actually we are planning on moving from Oahu to Big Island next year and I am excited to explore new territory. Having someone like you to learn from would be great🤙🏻

[@wiredforstereo]

Seems like something I definitely want to do, but probably only once.

[@HungaroExplorer]

Well, you never know until you do it. You might love it ao much that you wann ago back :)

[@nathanrjugoz3360]

I want to go there when I get back home to Hilo ❤

[@HungaroExplorer]

It is a journey🤙🏻

[@luckydubefan808]

That was nice. Never hiked Mauna Loa.

[@HungaroExplorer]

Mahalo! It is such a beautiful hike.

[@wiredforstereo]

Seeing the 7000 foot sign and you're half way there, if you started at sea level.

[@HungaroExplorer]

One day I want to go for it from sea level for sure.

[@luckydubefan808]

Did you folks experience any earthquake tremors on your hike? There used to be a hiking group back in the 80s and 90s that would hike to red hill cabin almost every year but it was such a hard hike that some got sick and didn't make it all the way. You folks got to the top and saw the crater. Thanks for showing us how huge it is. Congratulations!

[@HungaroExplorer]

We didn't experience any earthquakes just peace and beauty. The hike can be hard mainly because the elevation. One of our group members had elevation sickness too, but she pulled through. High elevation is always a concern.

[@luckydubefan808]

@@HungaroExplorer that's interesting, USGS says that they were recording eathquakes several months before November on the summit area.

[@HungaroExplorer]

Yes, after our trip I started getting emails about small earthquakes on Mauna Loa and a month later they closed the trail.

[@wiredforstereo]

The vast vast majority of earthquakes are much too small to feel. You only get one you can feel every month or two.

[@lilbbmuffin]

I started off saying wow maybe for my trip I can backpack! And after I saw the 11 miles I was like naaaaaaaaaaaah

[@HungaroExplorer]

Haha, that 11 miles are not easy, but very beautiful! Really worth it.

[@perlalyon]

Very cool! I'd love to do this hike one day. Did you see anything about hiking/summitting being disrespectful?

[@HungaroExplorer]

It is a great hike no doubt! Summiting here it’s ok. Summiting Mauna Kea can be a little questionable but depends on your approach. No matter what, these mountains in Hawaii have to be respected. You will feel a special energy (mana) when you are up there. Until you respect them, they will take care of you. Aloha🌈🌊🌋

[@johnfaulders9880]

Mauna Loa just erupted a year ago actually!

[@HungaroExplorer]

Excatly 3 months later after our visit. Inam sure a lot changed around. Maybe it is time for a re-visit.

[@thegreatestshowonearth7623]

And that same Volcano just erupted

[@HungaroExplorer]

That is just crazy!!! We were just enjoying a perfect time up there couple months ago.

[@pikiwiki]

what sunglasses are those?

[@HungaroExplorer]

Those are Julbo high elevation glasses with Category 4 lens. I used them in Nepal, but you don’t really need them on Mauna Loa.

[@mrk_u1352]

🤙🏼

[@Juscuzautollc]

Who here after eruption

[@HungaroExplorer]

I am off island, but really curious how this flow will change the caldera area of Mauna Loa.

[@andrewduncan7643]

@@HungaroExplorer Yes you must do another video update trip for comparison. (: Would like to do this myself and was planning on going this month but read the trail was closed so ended up backpacking and hiking the desert at Joshua Tree as a backup plan which was great too. Do those huts need to be reserved like Haleakala which we did 12 months ago? Loved it there so much. Spent 3 days in the crater staying at the huts.