Hike Faial PR1FAI 28 July 2012

Caught the 13.15hrs bus from close to the Tourist office above the marina in Horta direction Capelinhos at the western tip of Faial.

 Around 13.50hrs we started our hike, PR1FAI ,  from the  cross roads at Cruzeiro, near Capelo

 After a five minute walk up the road towards Praia do Norte, we turn left to the official start of the hike

 

 The route takes us over the rims of two caldeiras and ends at the disused lighthouse at Capelinhos

 The first part of the hike was steeply up a tarmac road, lined in many places with a colourful display of Hydrangeas, Ginger Lilies

 

 and Montbrecias

 by 1500 hrs were were at the rim of the 487 meter high Cabeco da Fonte crater, with its communication towers

 and good views to the north

 and the distinctive Morro de Castelo Branco peninsular in the distance on the south coast

 Capelinhos to the west

 zooming in to the Ponta dos Capelinhos lighthouse

 looking east to Faial's main central Caldeira

 the north coast

down the steep steps to our next objective, the Cabeco do Canto crater

 through some woods

 another glimpse of the lighthouse

 starting the ascent to the Cabeco do Canto crater

 made it to the crater rim, covered in stunted Tree Heather

 view of the crater

 Looking back east to the Cabeco da Fonte crater which we have just descended

 zooming in to the Furna Ruim , a sort of large fumerole in the side of the volcano

 zooming in to the Morro de Castelo Branco

 getting closer to the disused lighthouse

zooming in

and in

 The official track is described as returning via the col between the two Cabecos. 

 

However, there is a marked route which continues westwards

 a short detour

 to the cave

 looking back to the Cabeco do Canto

 our route continues downwards

 an old whaling observation point

Whale ..........

 Before the 1957 eruption, there was a small village here and a whaling harbour. Now the village is buried below the ash - another Pompei?

 another detour - to the original cliffs pre 1957

 over the volcanic ash

 From the cliff top, views of the new land which was formed in 13 months during the volcanic eruption which started on 27th September 1957

 

During this 13 months the whole island suffered earthquakes (El Hiero the most SW Canary Islands must have been experiencing something similar over the last year). As a result, many people emmigrated from the island.

The original coastline cliffs looking towards the lighthouse

 looking back to Cabeco do Cante

great place for a break

 A clearer view of the new land extension

 Since the 1957 eruption, the Ponta dos Capelinhos lighthouse has no longer been used. Mainly because the new land formed to the west severely restricts the angle from which the light can be seen. The story goes that the lighthouse keeper stayed by his lighthouse while the initially subsea eruptions were taking place.

 At 1830 telephoned for a taxi which arrived 25 minutes later and we were back on Dutch Link by 1930hrs.