On the drive to Hilo from Waimea, we stopped at Mauna Kea. Here it is...as you can see, it's a clear day, perfect to drive to the top.
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At the base of the mountain was a park. It was strange, lots of buildings, all abandoned, and these strange trees around the parking lot.
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As you climb Mauna Kea, the terrain looks mostly desert like. Apparently, before the Europeans brought goats to the island, this was a forest, but the goats have stripped the mid-altitude parts bare.
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The road to the summit was gravel, steep, and windy at times.
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As you climb, there are lots of strange rock/crater formations. It's also fun to climb up through the clouds.
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We're at the top! Here's Sue in front of one of the observatories there. Because it was summer, there was no snow here, but it was still pretty chilly.
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Here are Sue and I at the top, with some observatories in the background. The whole place felt like you were walking around a moonbase, really cool.
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More totally moon base-like observatories. I think the smaller sphere is for "submillimeter" observation or something like that.
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There were craters everywhere on the top and the slopes of Mauna Kea. This one looked good, with the clouds behind it.
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Sue with the crater and clouds behind her.
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Me with the clouds behind me.
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More observatories.
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Another observatory.
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One last look back at them before we start down the mountain.
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The famous Mauna Kea cow, with more craters in the background.
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