Mauna Kea Summit Tour

Has anyone done this and is it worth it? I have 3 teens and thought it looked interesting. Thanks.

Mauna Kea Summit Tour

We did it last October with Hawaii Forest %26amp; Trails.

They picked us up at 3:00 from our hotel, and we took off up Saddle Road to a picnic spot. The guide keeps up a running commentary as you drive, pointing out features in the terrain and giving some historical facts about the area.

The picnic spot is a group of old farm-type buildings on the slopesof the mountain. They unpacked coats and gloves, along with the picnic supper of soup and barbeque ribs. Note the ';warm, stick to your ribs'; food--it%26#39;s already chilly at the picnic spot.

After supper, it was back into the 4 wheel drive vans for the rest of the trip up the mountain. At the summit, we braved the cold to watch the sunset (and it is cold--really, really cold. I thought I%26#39;d have no problems, being from the Chicago area, but I was wrong).

After sunset, we drove back down to the visitor center area, where our guides set up telescopes. They pointed out constellations, and we got close up views thru the telescope of the full moon. Unfortunately, the full moon means less than perfect viewing conditions for the rest of the night sky.

After that, our guide drove us back to our hotel, and we were back in our room around 11:00.

Overall, we didn%26#39;t have our socks knocked off, but I think that had alot to do with the full moon. It would have been much better if we could have seen more of the night sky. The coolest part, I thought, was seeing the shadow of Mauna Kea projected onto the clouds to the east.

Our guide was terrific--she couldn%26#39;t have been any nicer, and I was amazed at the way she piloted a huge 4-wheel drive passenger van up the summit road.

The two other considerations, imo, was the length of the tour, and the temperature. It was so cold at the summit that I couldn%26#39;t stand outside for very long, and that%26#39;s with the parka, and the extra hat %26amp; gloves the guide gave me because I looked so cold!

Whether or not your teens would like it--I can%26#39;t really say. Since we don%26#39;t live anywhere near the ocean, I enjoyed watching the sunset at the beach more than the sunset at the summit, but that%26#39;s just me!

Mauna Kea Summit Tour

as you mentioned teens, the summit tours have a min age of 16 to go to the summit and are not flrexable on this.

And yes in summer temps at susnet are around 5 to9 degrees,C

If you are interested in science and astronomy then this is one of the best tours on earth. If however looking for a thrill it is not . Only in your direct interest in the subjects observed......... the trip up the mountain is spectacular.

To determine if your viewing conditions will be waht you hoped for go to '; Mauna Keas Weather'; which is written for the professional astronomer. It contains the weather daily in 8 hour blocks. More important it gives moon rise and % times as well as cloud cover, temp etc

This is written for folks spending $40,000 a night for observing time.. it is VERY accurate. use it for an honest accurate source of what is going on on the mountain... do mot use any other weather site as they are way off base for the mountain

as you mentioned teens, the summit tours have a min age of 16 to go to the summit and are not flrexable on this.

And yes in summer temps at susnet are around 5 to9 degrees,C

If you are interested in science and astronomy then this is one of the best tours on earth. If however looking for a thrill it is not . Only in your direct interest in the subjects observed......... the trip up the mountain is spectacular.

To determine if your viewing conditions will be waht you hoped for go to '; Mauna Keas Weather'; which is written for the professional astronomer. It contains the weather daily in 8 hour blocks. More important it gives moon rise and % times as well as cloud cover, temp etc

This is written for folks spending $40,000 a night for observing time.. it is VERY accurate. use it for an honest accurate source of what is going on on the mountain... do mot use any other weather site as they are way off base for the mountain

Hi Travelmom.

What time of year are you going?

We did this trip up to the top of Mauna Kea last July (2006) - on our own - and it was absolutely amazing.

Was it cold up top?... a little - we wore jeans and threw on a sweatshirt, and it was fine (remember - we were there in July - so take that into account). I had my picture taken on the summit with no shirt on - albeit only for a minute - so in July, you can ignore the need to buy/rent parkas, etc. Plus, you are from Ohio - so you are used to cold winters.

We went on a night where there was barely any moon - so it was dark - and the stars seemed to pop right out of the sky.

I would recommend this - as well as giving yourself time to stop at the Observatory on the way down to listen to the free astronomy lecture, and a chance to take a couple looks through one of their big telescopes.

I will never forget the sunset pictures from the top of Mauna Kea - and I would drive back up there myself in a minute.

I would highly recommend this tour. We enjoyed it very much. Do check the moon situation, though. Don%26#39;t do it if there is a full or nearly full moon. Because of the lack of light pollution mandated by law on the BI, you will see stars you never knew existed. We have dated pictures of us snorkeling in the morning and making snowballs in the afternoon at the summit in our parkas. As to teens enjoying it, not really sure. I consider it a very cerebral trip.

as a furthur note.. no rental car or 4x4 can be driven up Mauna kea, Only Harpers is allowed to do it.......

and with wind chill factors and altitude.. I would strongly suggest a layered insulation and a wind proof jacket and hat. and dark glasses

The altitude will intensify the effects of cold on your body.. so 30 degrees in Ohio at 800 feet in slack air is a whole different story of 30 degrees at 14,000 ft with 20 kt winds. In addition your body will feel like you has a few martinis due to the ascent of over 13,700 ft in such a short time..

low cost web hosting