(Mauna Kea, posted on January 4th from San Jose)

Earlier in the week, a major storm went over the island causing rain, flooding, clouds, and snow atop the higher peaks of the island.  One of the things I wanted to do on the Big Island was to go to the summit of Mauna Kea.  Atop are the world famous observatories and some of the clearest skies on earth.  The drive to the top requires a four wheel drive car (and our clown car is not one of them) and only one rental car company allows you to go up to the top.  Guided tours are a fortune and with the recent weather, it’s not looking promising for going to the top anyway.

We awoke today surprised to see the sun so we make a go of at least the visitor center of Mauna Kea (located at 9000 feet elevation; the summit is just under 14,000).  Since we just drove from sea level to 9000 feet elevation in under two hours, we hang out at the visitor center and look at the exhibits for a bit while we acclimate.  We’ve also changed clothes since it’s gone from the 70s at the coast to about 50 degrees.  After we each have a hot chocolate, we inform the visitor center that we’re going to start a hike that goes up the mountain.  There is snow a couple thousand feet up.  We plan on hiking up to try and get there, but realize it may not be possible because of fatigue or changing weather.

In less than an hour, we’ve made it up past 10,000 feet and over a 1000 feet of elevation gain in 1.2 miles on the trail (moderately steep).  We see one of the old craters on the mountain along with a (clearly volcanic in origin) portable toilet.

The fog starts rolling in, dramatically cutting visibility.  I’m getting a little tired and we’re at a path that leads (rather levelly) back to the road.  We make it to the road in a few minutes.  Minutes later, we wave at  a family in a pickup truck that is heading up the road and ask if we can get a lift.  They say “sure” and we hop in the back.  The drive takes us to over 11,000 feet of elevation after several miles (note, the hike is much steeper than the road).  The road all the way to the summit is still closed, but we’re at the parking area at the road closure where there are lots of cars parked and people playing in the snow.  Now in full winter gear (hat, gloves, rain jacket), we walk in the snow and take traditional Hawaiian photos of us in the snow.   It’s fun to see Hawaiians shoveling snow into the backs of their trucks to take home. 

After a little while at the top, someone offers to drive us back to the visitor center.  It’s now raining a bit and we get rather wet.  As soon as we get back to the visitor center, I make a quick restroom stop and then go to the car to change clothes.  L’ gets a couple hot chocolates and makes it to the car right as I’m done changing.  L’ tells the folks in the visitor center that we made it back and she says that people remembered us as those crazy folks who set out a couple hours earlier.  After we’re both in warm, dry clothes, we head back to the hotel.  Not that many people come to Hawaii and have more hot chocolates to stay warm than umbrella drinks to stay cool.

After much needed showers, it’s early enough to watch the sunset on our lanai in t-shirts.  Nothing like going from t-shirts to winter wear and back all within a few hours and a hundred miles.

After our recent dining adventures, I look up some places on yelp.  We call the top rated place to confirm it’s open and then head to Kona to eat there.  We find parking right away and have a great meal that doesn’t break the bank like a typical tourist town restaurant does.  We browse around Kona again and then return to our room.   It’s the first time in a long time I didn’t make it till midnight, but it was a fun day anyway.  Happy New Year to all and 2009 should be quite a ride.

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