quote:
Originally posted by TomK
Nadamucho,
"The summit of Mauna Kea does close, 30 minutes after sunset. [...]"
My apologies for using a colloquialism, but that's bollocks.
The summit does not close 30 minutes after sunset nor is there a mechanism to close the summit other than closing the summit access road near the VIS. That only happens when the weather is bad or will potentially be bad overnight.
Well heck then the ranger must have had a bad day, picked on just me, or abused his authority.
It was Dec 2005, the first opportunity I had to make the drive.
Before I rented a car I especially chose a company that did not have the 'no driving to Mona Kea clause'. Albeit I was still verbally warned, I ignored them because I'd read the entire contract and it wasn't there.
Just about all others did have certain clauses about off road or prohibited travel locations of types.
My wife, daughter and I arrived fairly late to the summit, later than planned. Made it just in time for sunset. And to add to the adventure Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Over The Rainbow was on the radio so I opened the doors and windows of the car and blasted it out for all the hear.. at that time I hand not heard about Iz's song but it was just plain total and completely awesome, right then and there on top o the world.
We got a ranger's attention who asked me to turn it down. I ignored him as well because, I'd pre-read everything I could have prior to visiting, besides it wasn't too long.
As the sun got lower that ranger was kicking people out!
I asked for more information from the ranger about staying longer, we wanted to star gaze, but advised to leave, 'closed at sunset' or something to that effect. Disappointed, we left just as the darkness was overcoming.
I also knew that, of the main reasons they did not want people was for the roads. Tourists disturbing the gravel, making it tough and requiring more maintenance. And more importantly, dust!.. Dust blurring the view of the scopes. And worse the mirrors used..
So I was as careful as I could on the road but it's very dangerous!! Little rattle trap rental, brand new but not designed to tackle such roads, took some doing to get up there without crawling. the gravel is loose, and terrain very, very steep. I had to maintain certain speeds or plan to take hours to get there so, there's just no way otherwise to do it without making a pile of dust under the tiers. Not to leave out, for the weight of car, you'll slide on the gravel if you go too slow or fast. Pollute the air.. I knew how to drive off road, drove sports cars for several years on any terrain I could, and quickly discovered if ya wanna get up that mountain, in a 2 wheel drive, crawling at gonna happen.
The trip down, after being kicked out by ranger.. Ya know the guys who you're saying don't care?? don't enforce the rule?? obviously must have had a bad day? picking on us and the others who were there at sunset?? that guy! LOL.
A fellow who was polite, reasonable, courteous, but direct! Just the type of person whom I listen too. we stalled as long as we could, within reason, before he'd expectedly come back to give us the boot, but didn't wait to be the very last car off the summit. I could swear I read signs at the entry of the dirt road warning to stay out after sunset.. Otherwise we would have stayed to see the stars.
That trip down, in the dark was 10 times worse than driving up!!.. those roads are extremely dangerous!!.. It's some scary poop! Scary even for me, from a kid on mini bikes, go-carts, up and down the hills where I grew up, across the deserts and mountains of California, too sports cars, wherever I could get too, ,, it was very scary!!
Obviously if I got to know the road more, traveled it 4-5 times I'd learn it, but 1st time in the dark?? GEEZ!!! It's a thrill ride at any speed! Driving down, and as I experienced, it does not matter whether a 4 or 2 wheel drive, albeit slightly better but for the gravel on it, for the weight of the vehicle, it's going to slide. in 2 wheel drive you can not crawl down that road it's too slippery.
I would not ever, ever invite John or Mary Jane Doe to traverse that road at night! Never mind the dust which is of the main reason they don't want people up there. forget the maintenance issue, it's just plain dangerous!!..
Sure there's plenty advice, might be a sign on the road advising 4 wheel drive cars or trucks, but,, facts are facts, if there's no barrier, up the road we go!!. Period, end of story. advertise that summit and people will go!
As we went down, the sky became overcast, a little fog made it just that much more difficult. When ever we got to the lower station, (VIS) there were rangers with tiny telescopes which we checked out for a while till it got to cold. I asked, in case I considered another trip, about a time to go to the summit at night and the rangers said no, to the effect it was prohibited.
I could swear I read signs at the entry of the dirt road warning to stay out after sunset.. It's of the things I hunt for, just like the rental car,, the loop hole around the rule.
Maybe not, regardless, The rangers all said "NO!"
Forget the dust, never-mind the excessive maintenance, I do not know what the exact rule or law is, but, if you put me in the responsibility of that summit,, there's no way I'd risk life and limb of public safety by allowing John or Mary Jane Doe an opportunity to come and go freely at night.. No matter what type of vehicle, if you ban any you have to ban them all.
Nor do I consider it responsible for any person to advise it. Like myself, I thoroughly knew that 4 wheel cars or trucks were advised but, because 2 were not banned,, it's a no brainier. Tourists will go up and down every fricken trail they can get too.. period.
AND!! Had I knew how dangerous that road is, understood what it's like at night, there's no freaken way I would have ventured so late.. No way in hell I'd risk the lives of me family..