Drive to Mauna Kea

[newUHprof]

Originally Posted by cagary

Renting a truck from Harpers and driving up to the summit.

Any one done this lately? Any things I should or should not do?

Thanks!

We did it last year this time. I don't know if you have a set day to go, but if not I would recommend doing the escorted summit tour.

Escorted Summit Tours - Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

It's nice for a few reasons. First, you are sort of forced to hang out at the visitors' center for the orientation piece. I was driving and didn't realize how light-headed I had become until we stopped & got out of the car. Probably would have been dangerous to continue, but I didn't know it. Second, you get a guide who can answer you questions. And third, you actually get to go in to one of the telescopes (we went into the Keck). Oh, plus it's free.

What we did: Show up at the visitors' center at 1pm. (It took us a lot longer to get there from Hilo than we anticipated. Leave extra time.) Orientation, caravan to the top, short tour, go inside a telescope, etc. That ends around 4pm. Then go for a short hike (we went to Lake Waiau, which was a very short hike but felt like plenty of exertion at that altitude). Then back to the summit for sunset. Then down to the visitors' center for hot chocolate and stargazing through the telescopes.

Oh, but if you follow this plan, bring some food with you. Because everything in Hilo will be closed when you get back at like 9:05pm. Seriously... we were so hungry!

[CyberCity]

Quoted from the above link: "The steep grade combined with the lower oxygen level makes internal combustion engines run inefficiently".

Yep. 'Aint much fun when your truck stalls out part way between the visitors center and the top. Been there ~ done that.

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by cagary

Renting a truck from Harpers and driving up to the summit.

Any one done this lately? Any things I should or should not do?

Thanks!

Harper's doesn't care - meaning that they allow you to do it.

Drive slow, use low range 4x4 (more so on the way back down to the 9k level to avoid toasting the brakes).

Loosening the gas cap when going up (after you get to the 9k level) also helps. Prevents stalling due to fuel starvation. It "may" set a check engine light, but not to worry. Three "trips" generally resets the CEL automatically. A "trip" to the computer is generally three cycles of fully warmed up driving.

[HiloDiver]

Originally Posted by newUHprof

We did it last year this time. I don't know if you have a set day to go, but if not I would recommend doing the escorted summit tour.

Escorted Summit Tours - Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

Thank you, putting that way high on the "to do" list after we move there (coming up SOON!)

Originally Posted by CyberCity

Quoted from the above link: "The steep grade combined with the lower oxygen level makes internal combustion engines run inefficiently".

Yep. 'Aint much fun when your truck stalls out part way between the visitors center and the top. Been there ~ done that.

OOPS don't you hate when that happens?

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

Harper's doesn't care - meaning that they allow you to do it.

Drive slow, use low range 4x4 (more so on the way back down to the 9k level to avoid toasting the brakes).

Loosening the gas cap when going up (after you get to the 9k level) also helps. Prevents stalling due to fuel starvation. It "may" set a check engine light, but not to worry. Three "trips" generally resets the CEL automatically. A "trip" to the computer is generally three cycles of fully warmed up driving.

Great info. Thanks!

[hotzcatz]

Awhile ago there were Charolais cattle in the open range area the road to the ranger station goes through. Those are a white breed of cattle so they'd really blend into the fog up there. So, "beware of invisible cows" even during daylight hours, too. We haven't but up mountain for several years so there may be darker colored cows now, but then again, maybe there are still the white ones or some of each.