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+--- Thread: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea (/showthread.php?tid=22168)
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Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - TomK - 02-07-2021
Just heard that there's been another snow-play related accident near the summit of Mauna Kea. The summit road is closed as emergency services are responding. There's been a spate of incidents in the last few days including a serious injury a few days ago:
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2021/02/05/hawaii-news/uh-advises-caution-when-visiting-maunakea-summit/
Some MKO webcams show bright red lists which I assume are from emergency vehicles. Unfortunately, it looks serious.
http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/cams/
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 02-08-2021
Here’s an update on the accident TomK reported last night. A man fell (slid?) 300 feet down Mauna Kea after he stepped over a guard rail. He was rescued, pulled to safety with ropes by Pohakuloa Training Fire & Rescue. Fortunately he didn’t need hospitalization.
https://www.khon2.com/living-808/local-heroes/man-slipped-fell-nearly-300-feet-down-maunakea-on-hawaii-island/
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - kalianna - 02-08-2021
I think he actually slid 700 ft. Good ride!
https://bigislandnow.com/2021/02/07/man-rescued-on-mauna-kea/
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - TomK - 02-08-2021
There is some confusion in the press. The victim certainly slid rather than fell and the reports are that the slide was 300 or 700 feet. According to the MK rangers, 750 feet of rope was used to rescue the victim so suspect the 300-foot slide is likely more realistic as I assume they included all the rope used for rescuers and the victim. In any case, it was a long slide! He was very lucky he didn't hit a rock on the way down.
Great job by the emergency responders. That rescue would not have been fun given the exertion needed with little to no altitude acclimatization and the extremely cold conditions.
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - randomq - 02-08-2021
I hope he got a lot of likes on instagram.
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - Durian Fiend - 02-08-2021
Stepping over a guard rail at an unfamiliar place in the dark is usually a bad idea. How steep is the slope there? I guess he was disinclined to attempt the climb back up.
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - TomK - 02-09-2021
Durian - I don't know if the following link works, but I think it shows where the accident happened (by the railings). It's pretty steep and you can imagine if it's covered in snow and ice you're going to be sliding a long way.
https://www.google.com/maps/@19.8266335,-155.4738922,3a,75y,104.3h,75.74t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipOEIG27nEUQYkM6jLKrjnTKFLTDzBH0J0CBgqU3!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOEIG27nEUQYkM6jLKrjnTKFLTDzBH0J0CBgqU3%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-3.8782117-ya294.0074-ro0.63123524-fo100!7i5376!8i2688
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - My 2 cents - 02-09-2021
I haven't been following the weather conditions up there closely, but when snow warms up for a bit, then freezes again it becomes a sheet of ice. Climbing back up something like that without special equipment is nearly impossible. Maybe you get 20' up, 40', maybe even 100', then lose your footing once and you are right back where you started.
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 02-09-2021
More snow & ice on the way. From NOAA:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Honolulu HI
318 PM HST Mon Feb 8 2021
A fast-moving cold front will bring moisture to the Summits of
Haleakala, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa overnight into Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a low aloft will drop temperatures to well below-freezing over Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Freezing rain and snow. Snow accumulations up to 3 inches on the Big Island Summits.
Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
RE: Another snow-play accident on Mauna Kea - TomK - 02-09-2021
Yes, tonight things are just starting to deteriorate with high winds and very cold temperatures. This storm should be very short though with the worst conditions Tuesday afternoon (Feb 9th). Temperatures have been really low for several days and don't think they've got above freezing for roughly a week now. Night-time temperatures have generally been around 20-degrees Fahrenheit and not much warmer during the day. The winds are forecast to stay high for almost a week. That makes the conditions extra dangerous for visitors as the soft snow gets blown into drifts and leaves the more compacted snow on the slopes which is essentially ice with these temperatures.