Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 5:02 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2012
drive up
mommy moon///
CzechMark - Dec 17, 2012 1:59 pm Date Climbed: Dec 12, 2012
Awesome
Great hike. My girlfriend and I were the only people on the trail today. 39 degrees on the summit and splendid views in all directions.
utclimber - Dec 3, 2012 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2012
Mauna Kea
A very interesting mountain, with great views of the island and the Pacific.
wyomtnlady - Nov 26, 2012 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2011
The Moon
Drove most of the way on our honeymoon in Hi.
MissH - Oct 17, 2012 2:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2012
Made it to Mars!
Ericd and I started at VIS at 6am after camping on the beach. Summited less than 5 hours later. Windy and dusty, but not as windy as the Rockies (that day anyway). Kind of how I imagine Mars, but maybe Mars in 20 years with those observatories up there! A nice couple gave us a ride back down which allowed us different views than the ascent's and to get the rental back in time so we weren't charged an extra day. Great 24 hours on the Big Island!
kevinsa - Sep 18, 2012 12:42 am Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2000
Mauna Kea
Decided to go cool off in the snow after laying on the beach in Kona.
fastlikeatortoise - Jul 21, 2012 12:22 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2010
Moonscape
I can see why astronauts were considering using this area to train for the moon landing. The hike is relentless and the terrain certainly doesn't vary. Watching cars drive up and down the road off to your right is a little disheartening but a great feeling of accomplishment. Hiked from the visitor center all the way up but hitched a ride down to save my knees since I had to work the next day.
Alpinist - Mar 6, 2012 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2012
Humuula Trail
Hiked up from the visitor's center above the clouds with Mark Z and John E. It was an enjoyable and memorable hike as this is my 50th state highpoint. Unfortunately, the winds were gusting to 70MPH on the summit. Thus, some of my family who drove up did not want to hike up the final summit ridge and I did not get the group photo that I wanted. However, the winds did put an interesting exclamation point on my final highpoint climb.
After two nights of locally brewed beer in the happy little resort town of Kona, the temptation to drive to the top was hard to resist. I wanted to work for it – to feel that I had earned the summit, and I knew that if I drove to the top, I would have to return again some day to do it “right.” Voting against me were my own body, happily relaxed in the driver’s seat of the rented Jeep, and also my hiking partner, Kurt, who wanted to grab a quick picture and race back down for some more Lava Man Red (Kona Brewing Company) before our flight that evening. We settled on a compromise.
Instead of the 6-mile hike (4,600 feet gain) from the visitor’s center, we hiked from the parking area at Mile Marker 5.0 on the Summit Road, elevation 12,000 feet. This compromise option saved at least two hours, and still provided a 3-mile hike (1,976 feet gain) all at the higher elevations of Mauna Kea. We talked to a Park Ranger who agreed this was a good option, and showed us where to cut across from the Summit Road to the Mauna Kea trail. The hike was entirely uphill, and as happy sea-level dwellers, the thin air made this one of the most difficult hikes in recent memory. This is a deceptively miserable climb, especially when the azure waters of the coast are such a short drive away, mocking you for your exertion. “Why not take off the hiking shoes and put the sandals back on? The beer is pretty cold down here…”
Mauna Kea’s views and volcanic geology are intense – well worth the effort (even if you drive up). But don’t take this mountain lightly. If you can run to the top from the visitor’s center, you are one of an elite group of world-class athletes, and you should probably be professionally sponsored. If you hike to the top, you should be steely-eyed, have plenty of food and water with you, and you should be ready for a high-elevation stair-climb that sucks the wind out of you and dares you to earn the summit.
Hitched a ride down. A word of caution: don’t be so eager for a ride that you jump into the first rickety old SUV with squealing brakes that comes along. The drive down can be worse than the hike up if the kind people who pick you up have the Angel of Death in their car as an additional passenger. (Dodged another bullet in the name adventure!)
run from the visitor's center; hitched down. took a swim in the lake on the way. a cold summit.
hikelasvegas - Jun 21, 2011 1:36 am Date Climbed: Dec 5, 2004
dizzy at the top
after we got out of out tour van, we had to climb up 200 ft. MAN, 200 ft. is a long way when there is NO AIR up there... :)
my FIRST HP, #1 for me, # 10 for hubby
bajaandy - Jun 20, 2011 2:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2011
Beautiful!
Nice drive! Fun to "summit" this mountain only a week after one of the Cali 14ner's. Low on fuel, and cap locked on tank caused a vacuum which turned on the low fuel indicator. A bit worried until back on the road to Waimea and gauge began to show fuel again!
klwagar - Apr 21, 2011 2:09 am Date Climbed: Apr 16, 2011
beautiful day
and a bit of snow too. A grueling climb :) all fifteen minutes of it
kteichert - Mar 8, 2011 1:13 am Date Climbed: Mar 7, 2011
HP #23
Started shortly after the visitors center at parking lot #1. Wasn't too excited about the switchbacks, so I got off the road and went up the ridge. Bad idea. Was scolded by a ranger for endangering the waima bug habitat. Apparently you learn about those at the visitors center, which I bypassed. Oops. He gave me a map and showed me the ice age trail. Summitted. Some snow. Amazing views. Absolutely ecstatic. Got some great pics. Amazing trip.
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 5:02 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2012
drive upmommy moon///
CzechMark - Dec 17, 2012 1:59 pm Date Climbed: Dec 12, 2012
AwesomeGreat hike. My girlfriend and I were the only people on the trail today. 39 degrees on the summit and splendid views in all directions.
utclimber - Dec 3, 2012 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2012
Mauna KeaA very interesting mountain, with great views of the island and the Pacific.
wyomtnlady - Nov 26, 2012 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2011
The MoonDrove most of the way on our honeymoon in Hi.
MissH - Oct 17, 2012 2:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2012
Made it to Mars!Ericd and I started at VIS at 6am after camping on the beach. Summited less than 5 hours later. Windy and dusty, but not as windy as the Rockies (that day anyway). Kind of how I imagine Mars, but maybe Mars in 20 years with those observatories up there! A nice couple gave us a ride back down which allowed us different views than the ascent's and to get the rental back in time so we weren't charged an extra day. Great 24 hours on the Big Island!
kevinsa - Sep 18, 2012 12:42 am Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2000
Mauna KeaDecided to go cool off in the snow after laying on the beach in Kona.
fastlikeatortoise - Jul 21, 2012 12:22 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2010
MoonscapeI can see why astronauts were considering using this area to train for the moon landing. The hike is relentless and the terrain certainly doesn't vary. Watching cars drive up and down the road off to your right is a little disheartening but a great feeling of accomplishment. Hiked from the visitor center all the way up but hitched a ride down to save my knees since I had to work the next day.
Alpinist - Mar 6, 2012 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2012
Humuula TrailHiked up from the visitor's center above the clouds with Mark Z and John E. It was an enjoyable and memorable hike as this is my 50th state highpoint. Unfortunately, the winds were gusting to 70MPH on the summit. Thus, some of my family who drove up did not want to hike up the final summit ridge and I did not get the group photo that I wanted. However, the winds did put an interesting exclamation point on my final highpoint climb.
Holsti97 - Mar 9, 2012 9:50 am
Re: Humu'Ula TrailWoo Hoo!! Congrats George. Now on to the Seven Summits.
MattK - Nov 29, 2011 3:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2011
From the Visitor CenterWhat an awesome hike from the visitor center. Except for a few people that drove to the top, we had the mountain to ourselves.
wyomtman - Nov 7, 2011 3:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2011
RallyRental to the top and ran over and touched the summit in the dark, COUNT IT!
Socorro - Oct 26, 2011 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2008
The easy wayBeen to the top but it didn´t take much effort. Definitely coming back to do the entire hike. The mountain´s shadow on the ocean is incredible.
MMclimbhigh - Oct 7, 2011 2:58 am Date Climbed: Oct 21, 2005
Humu'ula TrailClimbed the trail under full moon light. We were on the summit for an epic Pacific sunrise. Highly recommended
xpda - Aug 10, 2011 3:24 pm Date Climbed: Mar 19, 2008
Snow!It snowed!
dsprice - Jul 18, 2011 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2011
Earning ItAfter two nights of locally brewed beer in the happy little resort town of Kona, the temptation to drive to the top was hard to resist. I wanted to work for it – to feel that I had earned the summit, and I knew that if I drove to the top, I would have to return again some day to do it “right.” Voting against me were my own body, happily relaxed in the driver’s seat of the rented Jeep, and also my hiking partner, Kurt, who wanted to grab a quick picture and race back down for some more Lava Man Red (Kona Brewing Company) before our flight that evening. We settled on a compromise.
Instead of the 6-mile hike (4,600 feet gain) from the visitor’s center, we hiked from the parking area at Mile Marker 5.0 on the Summit Road, elevation 12,000 feet. This compromise option saved at least two hours, and still provided a 3-mile hike (1,976 feet gain) all at the higher elevations of Mauna Kea. We talked to a Park Ranger who agreed this was a good option, and showed us where to cut across from the Summit Road to the Mauna Kea trail. The hike was entirely uphill, and as happy sea-level dwellers, the thin air made this one of the most difficult hikes in recent memory. This is a deceptively miserable climb, especially when the azure waters of the coast are such a short drive away, mocking you for your exertion. “Why not take off the hiking shoes and put the sandals back on? The beer is pretty cold down here…”
Mauna Kea’s views and volcanic geology are intense – well worth the effort (even if you drive up). But don’t take this mountain lightly. If you can run to the top from the visitor’s center, you are one of an elite group of world-class athletes, and you should probably be professionally sponsored. If you hike to the top, you should be steely-eyed, have plenty of food and water with you, and you should be ready for a high-elevation stair-climb that sucks the wind out of you and dares you to earn the summit.
Hitched a ride down. A word of caution: don’t be so eager for a ride that you jump into the first rickety old SUV with squealing brakes that comes along. The drive down can be worse than the hike up if the kind people who pick you up have the Angel of Death in their car as an additional passenger. (Dodged another bullet in the name adventure!)
HP #4.
zoomloco - Jul 16, 2011 5:28 pm
run and swimrun from the visitor's center; hitched down. took a swim in the lake on the way. a cold summit.
hikelasvegas - Jun 21, 2011 1:36 am Date Climbed: Dec 5, 2004
dizzy at the topafter we got out of out tour van, we had to climb up 200 ft. MAN, 200 ft. is a long way when there is NO AIR up there... :)
my FIRST HP, #1 for me, # 10 for hubby
bajaandy - Jun 20, 2011 2:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2011
Beautiful!Nice drive! Fun to "summit" this mountain only a week after one of the Cali 14ner's. Low on fuel, and cap locked on tank caused a vacuum which turned on the low fuel indicator. A bit worried until back on the road to Waimea and gauge began to show fuel again!
klwagar - Apr 21, 2011 2:09 am Date Climbed: Apr 16, 2011
beautiful dayand a bit of snow too. A grueling climb :) all fifteen minutes of it
kteichert - Mar 8, 2011 1:13 am Date Climbed: Mar 7, 2011
HP #23Started shortly after the visitors center at parking lot #1. Wasn't too excited about the switchbacks, so I got off the road and went up the ridge. Bad idea. Was scolded by a ranger for endangering the waima bug habitat. Apparently you learn about those at the visitors center, which I bypassed. Oops. He gave me a map and showed me the ice age trail. Summitted. Some snow. Amazing views. Absolutely ecstatic. Got some great pics. Amazing trip.