Mauna Loa

[treesandsurf]

Here's some pics from last weekend, climbing Mauna Loa. This is the largest volcano in the world with an elevation of 13,600 ft above sea level and 54,000 ft total from the base (below sea level).

Very gradual hike, not too steep but very looooooong. I think it was a total of 40 miles round trip, over two and half days.

 

[treesandsurf]

Here's a shot of Mauna Kea (a neighboring volcano), a few hundred feet higher in elevation. This shot was from 10,000 ft where there is a really nice cabin that is free to use for hikers.

 

[treesandsurf]

A shot from the summit, the crater is gigantic!

 

[treesandsurf]

This is me realizing that it's 4:00pm with two hours of light left and still 9 miles back down to our cabin at 10,000 ft. Very bummed...

 

[treesandsurf]

WARNING!

This is not a pretty shot. Woke up next morning after the summit push with some pretty bad blisters... and a toe nail that has pretty much fallen off. No climbing for a while

 

[treesandsurf]

One more shot; I think this might have been on the way up. Cool rainbow.

jp

 

[Leon]

Sweet! It's a different world up there. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself and had good weather.

Did you know that if you drive up to the Mauna Loa Observatory (11,000 ft) from Saddle Rd that you can hike to the crater in just a few hours?

 

[Stumper]

.....but you will not have truly conquered the mountain until you start at the base. Glub glub.

 

[treesandsurf]

[ QUOTE ]

Did you know that if you drive up to the Mauna Loa Observatory (11,000 ft) from Saddle Rd that you can hike to the crater in just a few hours?

[/ QUOTE ]

My buddy Erik who setup the trip had already hiked to the summit via Saddle Road. But he wanted to do it from the parking lot at 6800 ft and asked if I wanted to join. On second thought, the saddle road way might have been a better idea as I would probably still have a big toe nail and be able to walk

jp

 

[RogerM]

Thanks for sharing those incredible sites. As far as the blister shot...."great googily moogily"

 

[SCOTTYNC]

John that was awesome bro. I'll have to come back over just so you can show me that spot. Heal fast my friend.
Scotty

 

[treesandsurf]

Anytime Scotty!

jp