Mauna Kea Summit trip booked...

[cybereye]

Hi all!!

I'm very excited as I've booked a trip to the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii for a sunset trip during our holidays later in the year. I don't care how thin the oxygen is up there, I'll be taking lots of pics of Keck, etc... :D

Cheers,
Mario

[Ric]

Sounds like a great side trip Mario.

I'll be looking forward to seeing the pictures.

[gary]

Fabulous Mario!

Sounds like what you will lack in oxygen you will make up for with adrenaline.

We look forward to the photos.

[barx1963]

Mario
Its a marvellous place! I went up with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures and they were pretty good. Sunset at the summit is spectacular. The stargazing is nice as they use a 11" Celestron but I found they often want to look at southern objects (Omega Cent etc) that cannot be seen by most of their customers at home. I had to put in a special request to get them to have a look at M51, M81 and M82.
It was all good, just be sure to rug up! The oxygen levels are not usually an issue. On my 2 trips to the summit we had no one have any issues.

Malcolm

[lacad01]

Nice one, hope you can take some good night scapes while up there

[DavidTrap]

Didn't know tours were available - might have to put that on the agenda if we get to Hawaii in the future!

Hope the weather gods smile on you.

DT

[strongmanmike]

Wow, way to go Mario, you will certainly be able to Guardi le Stelle from up there! :thumbsup:

Mike

[cybereye]

Thanks everyone!

I'm really looking forward to the tour. My wife, who actually did the booking, know's me well - when she was choosing the tour for me she let me know what the meals were on the tour. Because of this I was able to make an informed choice!!

Cheers,
Mario

PS I went the roast chicken tour not the the 3 cheese lasagna tour... :thumbsup:

[batema]

We had a packet of chips explode in a back pack due to the change of pressure and make sure at the top and tightly screw the lid on an empty plastic drink bottle and check it out at the bottom. It is an amazing place. You will love it. Lots of photos.
Mark

[ngcles]

Hi Mario,

Yes, look forward to a great experience (I have been there once myself)! Many people do experience altitude sickness there (by no means all) and your best chances of not getting it include making sure you acclimatise (as long as you are allowed) at the visitor centre at 9,000 ft. I spent nearly two hours there. Make sure you are well hydrated and bring warm clothes -- it really is cold up there.

When you are up there, you will be excited and tempted to move around quickly to experience all the views etc. Take it easy. Don't rush anything. Walk slowly. Climb any slope at less than half the pace you are used to and you'll probably be okay. The sunset up there is astounding!

If you are driving yourself, look out carefully for "invisible cattle" on the way down the lower slopes. It is likely you will hear all sorts of horror stories about the road from the visitor centre to the summit. It is steep, slightly corrugated in places but otherwise a wide and good gravel road. On the descent from the summit to the visitor centre, make sure you use the gearbox to brake the car as much as possible and avoid using the brakes too much.

Best,

Les D

[strongmanmike]

Ah, a man after my own heart......