When we experience something that is beyond our wildest expectations, it behooves us to share with those for whom we care. Besides Monday’s hike, we have appended a few photographs from our Mauna Kea climb. When we hiked Mauna Loa last week, the nature of that massive volume of rock precluded obtaining perspective and views of the mountain/volcano itself. Blog 8.11 below provided pictures from Loa of Mauna Kea; today we reversed the process. We intend to publish more photographs and a formal blog next week.
In the meantime, we gained 3,300 feet, reaching an altitude of about 12,500 feet, over 3.5 miles (7 miles return) but did not attempt to reach the summit, in one of our steepest climbs ever. We were not intending to climb that high and are now disappointed for not completing it. Why we did not prepare for a full hike, eludes us. Nevertheless, besides viewing our favorite sight—heavy, thick, white clouds, not forgetting the overwhelming Mauna Loa—the experience included an unexplainable spiritual element. Should we be forced to ‘hang-up’ our hiking boots, G-d forbid, we would select this hike as a finale.
(Clicking photo enlarges all)
Head above the clouds although it felt like 'in' the clouds all day. Mountain peeps through
Jen heads toward the mountain and clouds
Jen going up and over another cone
Sloping into the clouds
Mauna Loa is massive. Standing before it, we were overwhelmed, humbled and privileged
Deep mist kept coming and going
Feeling the strain of a very steep hike, an incredible experience
Peak of Mauna Loa peeking through clouds from Mauna Kea, the White Mountain
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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