Climb of a Lifetime

While taking a quick break on the Big Island in Hawaii, I decided we might as well climb Mauna Kea! At 13,796 ft, Mauna Kea is the highest mountain (volcano) in the state of Hawaii. The hike starts at the Visitor Information Center at roughly 9600 feet and climbs over 7 miles through nothing but volcanic rock to the summit cone. The true summit is another mile up the road- a jump over the barriers and a short rock scramble up the hill and you have reached the summit pyramid! At the top you have spectacular views of Mauna Loa, all the telescope and observatory buildings and down the East side of the island. The day was particularly windy so we had to use all our might not to get blown off the side.

I am a believer now that you feel the altitude much more the further you move away from the equator. I felt pretty good on this climb which would be the equivalent of being flown into Camp 2 on Denali and told to immediately hike up to Camp 4- a place that took us almost a week to climb up to.

I have a new summit dance to add to my collection and I guess I can now officially join the Highpointers. Only 49 more mountains to go!

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis