mauna kea summit

Several weeks ago Tim and Mark and I went to visit Mauna Kea and drive up to the summit. Most people think that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, but actually, Mauna Kea is significantly taller when measured from its base, which is underwater. However, Mount Everest has a higher elevation. Mauna Kea stands at 13,796 feet above sea level.

We had to acclimate at the visitor's center before driving up, and even then by the time we reached the top I was gasping for breath and feeling a little lightheaded. But it was an amazing sight!! A blanket of clouds covered most of the landscape below and the sky was the most brilliant, clear blue gradient. It was FREEZING up there, even wearing three thick heavy sweaters. We didn't take a tour, so we didn't get the luxury of tour guides giving us parkas. I haven't worn a sweater once since I arrived on the island, and it might has well have been snowing up there it was so cold. Not everyone knows this, but in the winter, it does snow, and lots of people go skiing and snowboarding. Yep, in Hawaii.

We watched the sunset, and then after night fell Mark rode down the mountain on his mountain bike and Tim and I drove back down to the visitor's center, where we stopped to drink hot chocolate and peer through a bunch of telescopes that were set up. The stars were incredible! I have never seen a more clear, star-flooded sky in my entire life. Which is why they have the observatory here, as you can see from all the pictures. :)

See that mountain below? That's actually not on the big island... it's Maui! :)

We didn't know this until after we had left, but this is the trail that actually leads to the summit, which is a peak off to the side which is slightly higher than where all the tourists and visitors go. So technically, we didn't go to the summit, but really... eff that. The difference between this peak and that one is minor. Plus it was freezing up there, lol. But anyway, that's why you see the two lone wolves down on the trail there, determined to tell everyone they went to the real summit.

Pshhhh, whatever. :) I stood on top of the tallest mountain in the world.

I really liked the photo below for some reason... it's just different.