by Brad M. McGehee

Depending on who you ask, Mauna Kea, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the tallest mountain in the world. No, that can't be right, Mount Everest is the tallest. Well, it depends on how you measure mountains. If you measure Mauna Kea and Mount Everest from sea level, then Mount Everest is tallest. But if you measure both of them from their base, then Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world. This is because most of Mauna Kea's height and mass is under water.

From sea level, Mauna Kea's elevation is 13,796 feet, but from its base, is an estimated 32,000 - 33,000 feet tall. Mount Everest, on the other hand, is 31,796 feet tall. But I'm not here to argue how mountains are measured, but to talk a little bit about what gear is appropriate for climbing to the top of Mauna Kea.

Actually, climbing might not be the right word, because you can drive to the top, making Mauna Kea easily accessible for most adventure travelers. Once you reach top, you can then tell all your friends that you have been to the tallest mountain on Earth. Just don't say the highest mountain, as Mount Everest is actually higher, just not taller, depending on who you ask.

Mauna Kea is also the location of 12 world class telescopic observatories, as Mauna Kea provides the best place on earth for clear astronomic observing. While you can get tours of the observatories, you can get up close and personal with them, making this adventure extra special.

How to Get to Mauna Kea

Unlike Mount Everest, it is very easy to get to Mauna Kea. It is located on the Big Island of Hawaii, and is less than a two hour drive from the Kona Airport (located on the west side of the Island.)

Now, for the one impediment to getting to Mauna Kea. Hey, if there weren't problems, then this wouldn't be adventure travel. You can't take most rental cars to Mauna Kea. Most rental car contracts have a clause, invalidating them, if you drive the rental car on what is known as the Saddle Road. This road cuts across the Big Island, and is the only way to get to Mauna Kea. So, if you want to get to Mauna Kea, you must find a car rental agency that first, allows you to drive on the Saddle Road, and second, an agency that rents 4-wheel drive vehicles, as they are necessary for the drive to the top. Some parts of the road have a 15% grade.

Another alternative is to take an organized tour to the top of Mauna Kea. While this is not as adventuresome as driving yourself, it is an easy way to get to the top without spending a lot of money. There are many tour agencies on the Big Island that will bring you up, virtually any day of the year.

Not Everyone Should Climb Mauna Kea

Another very unusual aspect of climbing Mauna Kea is that you can go from sea level to nearly 14,000 in just a couple of hours. This is a radical change for the body, and not every person's body can take such a huge altitude change in such a short time. Because of this, the following groups of people should probably not make the climb:

• Children 16 years of age and younger.
   
• Anyone with medical issues, such as a bad heart, breathing problems, high blood pressure, or pregnant.
   
• Anyone who has been drinking alcohol recently.
   
• People who have been SCUBA diving in the last 24-48 hours.

The closest emergency aide is about two hours away, so you don't want to risk the climb if you follow in any of the above categories.

One way to make the climb easier is to follow these suggestions:

• Drink lots of water before going up the mountain.
   
• Take a break at the Visitor's Center, which is located about 9,100 feet, for about 30-45 minutes to acclimatize to the altitude, before going to the summit
   
• Don't stay at the summit from more than an hour.
   
• When on top, take it easy, and don't try jogging. When I was there, I saw some crazy snowboarders.

Fortunately, most everyone can visit one of the most spectacular sites in the world.

Ideal Gear for Climbing Mauna Kea

Most of the people who climb Mauna Kea don't plan on doing so until they get to the Big Island. That's because they didn't think about it until after they get there and see an ad for a trip to the top. The problem with this is that when you pack for Hawaii, you don't think about packing gear for going to the top of Mauna Kea, where daytime highs range from 30-50 degrees, and nighttime lows range from 20-30 degrees, and winds range from light breezes to hurricane force.

So, ideally, you should plan to bring along the right gear for the climb. Here's what I suggest:

• Mid-weight top and bottom base layers.
   
• Windproof or wind-resistant pants, such as soft shell pants.
   
• Long-sleeve shirt or top.
   
• Lightweight down jacket; or heavy weight, wind-resistant fleece jacket.
   
• Head and ear protection.
   
• Wool socks.
   
• Lightweight hiking boots.
   
• Sunglasses.
   
• High SPF Sun Block on all exposed skin.

The frustrating part is that you start off at sea level, and temps are in the 70's or 80's, and then quickly move into the colder temps. Because of this, layering is very important, so you can change your clothing as the temps change.

Because your vehicle will be air-conditioned, I recommend you start off the trip with your base layer, pants, long-sleeve shirt, wool socks, and boots on. This will be a little on the warm side, starting out, but with air-conditioning, is OK in the car.

On the trip up, you may want to stop at the State Park on the way up to the top. It can be very cool and windy here, and you might need your jacket. The next place you will stop at is the Visitor's center to acclimatize. Here, you may also want to wear your jacket, hat, and gloves. And the next stop is the summit, where you will want to wear all of your gear.

The day I was there (in early March), the summit was about 20 degrees and the wind was blowing about 20-25 MPH, and I wore all of the above, and it kept me plenty warm for the hour visit.

If you take a tour to the top, the tour company generally provides parkas and gloves to wear. So if you take a tour and don't mind wearing well-worn clothing, you can skip bringing along the jacket and gloves if you like, helping you to pack lighter on your trip. Of course, if you go it alone, you will need to bring your jacket.

If you make it to the Big Island, you don't want to miss this trip. It is an opportunity few people ever experience.