This video was shot on the Big Island of Hawaii. We drove as close as we could and then hiked across about 3 miles of jagged terrain for several hours to where the lava was flowing. While many questioned our judgement, the experience was great.
This lava hike was probably the end of my left knee which had arthroscopic surgery 2 weeks earlier to removed damaged cartilage. It was replaced less than a year later probably as a partial result of activities like this.
The stick I used to poke the lava was purchased on the way to the site from Ace Hardware. I wanted to actually feel what lava was like. I did. Being of course molten rock, it made perfect sense that it felt like wet cement. My tennis shoes melted to within 1/8" of reach my foot. They were so liquid it was like walking on slippery oil. It was an experience none of us will ever forget.