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Mike Howells | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> May 2002 - Mauna Kea - Hawaii tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

May 2002 - Mauna Kea - Hawaii | May 2002 - Boeing 767-300 Cockpit Tour - Lambert (STL) | December 2002 - Manhattan, New York | In Memory of Laddie | September 2006 - Australia - Introduction | September 2006 - Australia - Sydney | September 2006 - Australia - Melbourne | September 2006 - Australia - Cairns | June 2023 - UK - London | June 2023 - UK - Scotland | June 2023 - France - Paris | In Box

May 2002 - Mauna Kea - Hawaii

These are pictures from our trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. This is our trip to the summit of Mauna Kea, which is almost 14,000 ft. tall. The sunset pics were taken between cloud layers at around 12,000 ft. Breathing at 14,000 can be interesting. We got short of breath, dizzy and lightheaded. Our bodies started doing strange things at that altitude. All pictures taken by the digital Canon PowerShot S40 camera.
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The drive up to the summit on Saddle Rd. (Highway 200)
The drive up to the summit on Saddle Rd. (Highway 200)		 Telescopes used to view the stars after sunset at the Onizuka Visitor Information Station at 9,000 ft.
Telescopes used to view the stars after sunset at the Onizuka Visitor Information Station at 9,000 ft.		 Incredible warnings about travelling to the summit of Mauna Kea. I like the invisible cows remark. Click on original image.
Incredible warnings about travelling to the summit of Mauna Kea. I like the invisible cows remark. Click on original image.		 This is a warning sign right before you get to the Visitor Information Center at 9,000 ft. Checkout the cloud deck right above.
This is a warning sign right before you get to the Visitor Information Center at 9,000 ft. Checkout the cloud deck right above.
Sign at the entrance to the Visitor Information Station (VIS) at 9,000 ft.
Sign at the entrance to the Visitor Information Station (VIS) at 9,000 ft.		 About 49 degrees F at the VIS at 9,000 ft. The summit was 33 degrees F at 14,000 ft.
About 49 degrees F at the VIS at 9,000 ft. The summit was 33 degrees F at 14,000 ft.		 Chelle has her Milky Way chocolate bar and two bottles of water, which are much needed at altitude.
Chelle has her Milky Way chocolate bar and two bottles of water, which are much needed at altitude.		 The paved road has ended and is now volcanic rock. Four-wheel drive vehicles are required at this point.
The paved road has ended and is now volcanic rock. Four-wheel drive vehicles are required at this point.
Getting towards the top of the summit. This place looks like the surface of the moon.
Getting towards the top of the summit. This place looks like the surface of the moon.		 Chelle at the entrance to the UH telescope. Good thing we brought appropriate clothing as it is 33 F and 40 mph winds.
Chelle at the entrance to the UH telescope. Good thing we brought appropriate clothing as it is 33 F and 40 mph winds.		 Picture of Chelle outside of the UH telescope braving the elements (underexposed)
Picture of Chelle outside of the UH telescope braving the elements (underexposed)		 01 Outside view of the UH 2.2m telescope.
01 Outside view of the UH 2.2m telescope.
NASA has a presence here as well. This is an outside view of their Infrared Telescope facility.
NASA has a presence here as well. This is an outside view of their Infrared Telescope facility.		 Closer view of the Infrared Telescope facility.
Closer view of the Infrared Telescope facility.		 Outside view of the Keck Observatory, which is open to the public. Unfortunately, they were closed when we arrived at 6:00pm.
Outside view of the Keck Observatory, which is open to the public. Unfortunately, they were closed when we arrived at 6:00pm.		 To put it mildly when you are at altitude your body does strange things including wanting to get rid of mass amounts of water.
To put it mildly when you are at altitude your body does strange things including wanting to get rid of mass amounts of water.
02 On our way down from the summit. We are getting ready to enter another cloud deck (slightly blurred).
02 On our way down from the summit. We are getting ready to enter another cloud deck (slightly blurred).		 Chelle poses right before the sun is about to set.
Chelle poses right before the sun is about to set.		 Absolutely surreal view on top of Mauna Kea between cloud layers at 12,000 ft. while the sun sets. This is exactly how it looked
Absolutely surreal view on top of Mauna Kea between cloud layers at 12,000 ft. while the sun sets. This is exactly how it looked		 It's difficult to describe how beautiful this sunset was. The most beautiful I've ever seen in my life.
It's difficult to describe how beautiful this sunset was. The most beautiful I've ever seen in my life.
Chelle takes a seat before the sun sets.
Chelle takes a seat before the sun sets.		 The sun is about half visible now. Notice the upper cloud deck that we were inside of at 14,000 ft.
The sun is about half visible now. Notice the upper cloud deck that we were inside of at 14,000 ft.		 The deep red of the clouds was breathtaking.
The deep red of the clouds was breathtaking.		 The sun has almost set.
The sun has almost set.
The sun has completely set at this point. Chelle is barely visible in the foreground.
The sun has completely set at this point. Chelle is barely visible in the foreground.		 Another surreal almost wicked looking cloud layer close by. We could almost touch them.
Another surreal almost wicked looking cloud layer close by. We could almost touch them.		 The sunset becomes more vibrant as the sun goes farther away.
The sunset becomes more vibrant as the sun goes farther away.		 The sunset reaches its mature stage after about 5-10 minutes.
The sunset reaches its mature stage after about 5-10 minutes.
Picture of me silhouetted by the sunset.
Picture of me silhouetted by the sunset.		 The sunset has past its peak and is now almost gone.
The sunset has past its peak and is now almost gone.		 Warning signs warning us to use our four-wheel drive on the summit as well as caution conditions on the summit.
Warning signs warning us to use our four-wheel drive on the summit as well as caution conditions on the summit.		 These water bottles were opened at 14,000 ft. and sealed. This is what they look like at sea level.
These water bottles were opened at 14,000 ft. and sealed. This is what they look like at sea level.
The barometric pressure difference between 14,000 ft. and seal level is incredible. There is about a 60% increase in pressure.
The barometric pressure difference between 14,000 ft. and seal level is incredible. There is about a 60% increase in pressure.
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Guest 04-Nov-2002 00:34
Former resident and avid Mauna Kea skiier admires your photos, Fantastic
click on thumbnails for full image