Humu'ula Trail Big Island Hawaii

mcjhrobinson

mcjhrobinson

Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
977
Had some free time and thought I'd tickle my fancy at a serious hike, not so much a woodsbum or a stroll but a killer hike. I choose the Humu'ula trail which is on Mauna Kea. It parallels the observatory road and starts at the Vistors Center (9k ft) and ends at the observatories are roughly at 13,800. The hike is about 6mi up to the observatories and then back down the same route. Sadly I starting getting AMS at around 12000ft and had to head back down. Good thing though because it started to rain and I heard when I got back to the Visitors center that the top was snowing and was near a white out. It was insane hiking in less air and even crazier to feel the symptoms of AMS (nausea and dizziness). I think i shouldve stayed down longer. At least I know what the onset of AMS feels like now Anyway onto some pics.

The trail

IMG_0637Custom.jpg


IMG_0642Custom.jpg


Some views (not even from the top)

IMG_0648Custom.jpg


IMG_0635Custom.jpg


IMG_0632Custom.jpg


Clouds that rolled in

IMG_0638Custom.jpg


Tried a Pan shot

mauna_loa_panCustom.jpg


Knife shot (Esee-3)

IMG_0645Custom.jpg


Thanks for looking!
 
Good thing you recognized the symptoms for what they were...The risk for AMS aside, it looks like an amazing hike!
 
Nice views, glad you caught on to what was happening. If I ever make it out there I'll have to take the accent from sea level to such heights slowly...which is really no problem for me, I'll probably be photographing every little detail of the alien terrain.
 
Cool pictures, thanks for sharing. We were there earlier this year, but didn't go past the visitor's center as we had our small daughter with us. Eerie looking.

mercurial
 
thanks for the kind words guys...i wouldve taken more pics but i had to stop literally every 200meters or so to catch my breath. ive always known about AMS but never got to go past 10k. I tried to combat AMS with taking longer breaks, but those clouds kept getting closer and darker and i kept getting more nauseos and dizzy. it was real interesting testing my body...next is hypothermia.

mistwalker-if we're still here you got a place to crash

mercurial-the views from the visitors center looked about the same as where i got to...didnt miss much. plus sometimes the top has worse weather and no views.

prop-i even wrote down the list of symptoms of AMS just as a reminder

sar5- thanks! wish i couldve gotten more.

kalama-it was a nice hike, doubt ill ever do it again for a while though :)
 
was never a fan of that hike lol. air is brutal and the view isnt as 'worth it' as most other hikes in hawaii. but glad you made it down safe.
 
jaynick said:
was never a fan of that hike lol. air is brutal and the view isnt as 'worth it' as most other hikes in hawaii. but glad you made it down safe.
Click to expand...

im not a huge fan of it either but had never done it so i figured what the hell. i thought the lack of O2 was an interesting challenge and one that i had not previously faced. the views were quite constant, i think the trail to kalalau beach is my fav hike in hawaii (and i have done no where near all of them).
 
That's Hawaii?! I had no idea you had that kind of altitude...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top