On top of the world

Words will do what we saw little justice. It was a two hour drive from Kona to the Mauna Kea visitor center at 9,000 feet. The Summit and observatories were another 4,000+ feet up; roughly a half hour drive up a gravel road. From there, we surveyed the landscape and watched the sun set. As the last of the light faded, the cars descended back to 9,000 feet for star gazing at the visitor center. It was cold. Complete with snow. And absolutely incredible...

The drive along Saddle Road

At the visitor center, along with more expected postings about elevation sickness, driving hazards and temperature was this more bovine warning.

The barrenness of the lava fields in Kona was nothing compared to the drive to the summit.

W.M. Keck Observatory

A panoramic of the observatories

Shadows lengthen

Not a bit of the island is visible through the clouds as we stand at over 13700 feet.

Mauna Loa volcano peeks above in the distance


The shadow of the mountain is cast on the clouds below


Sunset atop Mauna Kea

From the summit. Jupiter and Venus begin to shine

And the stars. Never in my life have I ever seen the night sky so clearly. The Milky Way was a thick powder cutting across the center of the dark. Venus, Jupiter and even Andromada were all visible to the naked eye. I cannot describe how awe inspiring it was to see those billions of gems sparkle so vibrantly.