To the Summit

To cut to the chase, WE MADE IT!!!

However, this was unquestionably the hardest ride I have ever done in my life.  The last 8 miles to the summit in particular was a bear.  The gravel portion was actually cinders, so it was very difficult to get any solid footing.  And both the gravel and paved section had up to 20% grades.  It was one of those experiences where your mind keeps trying to convince you to stop, and only through will power do you continue on.  That went on for over four hours. 

I broke the last eight miles into smaller pieces in my head – half mile increments, how much more elevation I had to climb.  There is no way I would have gotten there without the motivation and support of my SO, Darla Sweet.

The views were spectacular, we spent most of the climb above the visitor’s center also above the clouds:

By the time we got to the summit, the wind was blowing at almost 40 miles per hour.  We took some quick ‘victory’ photos, chatted with a few people at the summit, and packed up to head home.  It was an amazing journey, but not one I will be repeating!  Happy though to give any tips to aspiring cyclists!

The view from 9,000 feet

I've concluded that rowing and cycling have many things in common. Of course they are both endurance sports, that favor less the sprinters and more the ones that can just keep going and going.  While the motions are different in each sport, they both operate largely in two planes.  And finally, of relevance to this climb, I get through tough pieces by counting off strokes and pedal cycles.  When I see a big hill with an 18% grade, I tell myself, well its probably 150 pedals and I will be to the top, or the next curve.  Cycling a big mountain like Mauna Kea is all about breaking it into little pieces, otherwise you become overwhelmed.

The visitor's center, at 9,000 feet, is above the clouds.  Its a strange feeling to be so high, like you are cycling on top of the world.  You look down and watch the clouds go by.  Kind of like when you were a kid and laid down on your back, looking up, just here you only need to turn your head right or left.



The last stretch is 4.5 miles of gravel, which I will walk with my bike, then 3.5 miles of paved road.  I'll probably walk a little and then pedal as much as I can.  The lack of oxygen makes this an amazingly hard thing to do.

Across the saddle road on a windy day

We're at the turn to the visitor's center, which is at 6,500 feet.  Time for a ten minute break.  The wind is already shaping up to be a problem - 10-20 MPH, on top of riding 10 MPH, that's effectively riding into a 20-30 MPH breeze.  Nonetheless I feel pretty good.  Weather is great other than the wind.  Now comes the fun part - the 20% grade...

Great day for a ride!

Weather looks perfect this morning (except for the 20 mph winds at the summit). We are having breakfast at Ken's in Hilo, an all night diner. I'm feeling great - good nights sleep, recovered from yesterday's lack of oxygen - ready to get this done!




We'll take off at 6:45 am local, just after sunrise.

Next update will be in 3-4 hours from the visitor's center.

In Hilo and the trial run

Today is close to picture perfect in Hilo – partly cloudy, temperatures in the 70s, and a light breeze.  After recovering from the 14-hour trip yesterday, we spent some time today going over the course.  First though was re-assembling the bikes, which went off without any major hitches.

 

We mapped out the total ride at about 42 miles.  The first 28 miles gets you to the turn off the highway, gaining 6,500 feet in elevation.  The ride from there to the visitor’s center is another 6 miles, ending at 9,000 feet.  Finally there is the last section to the summit, which is 4.5 miles of unpaved and then 3.5 miles of paved road to the summit.  I plan to walk the unpaved section with my bike, otherwise I would have had to bring two bikes.

 

I tested out how bad the climb would be by doing almost half of the last 3.5 miles of the ascent, the paved portion to the summit.  The grade, while up to 20%, was really not that bad with the new gearing on the bike.  The big problem was the lack of oxygen.  I could go for a few minutes on my bike, and my heart would rapidly be up to about 180 beats per minute.  Each time I’d continue on until I felt light-headed, then pull over and catch my breath.  So that was what it was like for 1.7 miles – pedal, pull over, recover, and pedal some more.  Over this stretch, because of the lack of oxygen, you are only making 3.5 miles per your or so.  It gave me a good feel for what it would be like tomorrow when we try the first attempt to make the summit.

 

The summit has probably a dozen observatories. Mauna Kea, which means Mountain in the sky, has some of the clearest stargazing of anywhere in the world.

 

There were a number of people driving up to the summit (I was the only cyclist we saw, except for someone much lower on the course).  We saw people climbing the snow-packed volcanoes, snowboarding, and one guy who was filling the back of his pickup truck with snow, to bring back to Hilo to make a snowman!

It’s a surreal scene.  You are well above the clouds, with nothing in sight but the remnants of the last volcanic eruption in 2460 BC, covered in snow, while you look out over the water and trees in the distance.

 

Anyway, tomorrow is the big day, and we will see what the sky father, Mauna Kea, has in store for us!

Road to the Summit is Open! And the plane is leaving

Note:  I am doing this ride to raise money for Row Yew York (www.rownewyork.org), a charity that combines rowing with academics to for under served communities to build the skills they need to succeed in life.  If you would like to donate, the crowdsource page is:  https://www.crowdrise.com/ray-vs-the-volcano.  I will be matching the first $20,000 we raise.




After a little nail-biting suspense, the road to the summit is now open again. I am still wishing I brought my snow tires!  In any event the web cams at the summit do show some pavement, so if I make it hopefully I can weave around the ice:)

Our flight leaves in an hour, we arrive in Hilo around 7:10 pm local time tonight.  We plan to drive to the course tomorrow in our Jeep and see how conditions are at the summit. Next post will be early evening Sunday.

Snow!!!

When you are at 14,000 feet, you have to deal with a lot of vagaries in life.  And even though Hawaii is on the equator, today that means snow.

The headline in the Hawaiian paper reads:

Dangerous icy, snowy conditions lead to Blizzard Warning for Big Island summits

Forecasters said snowfall of more than 6 to 10 inches is possible with locally higher amounts. 

Southwest winds could reach 45 to 55 mph, with gusts to 65 mph.

Web cams show what appears to be white out conditions in some spots

The Hawaii weather service says these kind of conditions only happen every one to 2 years.  Lucky me - the blizzard hits Hawaii a few days before I get there!

This afternoon, when I checked, it was 10 degrees and winds 55-65 mph.  Now it seems a little calmer, with winds of 21 mph.  The road from the Visitor’s Center (at 9,000 feet) to the summit is closed.

We are still going - we will hope that by Monday the snow will melt and the road will be passable again.  I am always the optimist!  Worst case we won’t try the summit on Monday, but delay a few days.

Stay tuned!

Getting ready

MAUNA KEA SUMMIT WEATHER (2-25-17)



I have always liked crazy challenges, especially biking challenges.  For example, in 2011 I rode across the USA with my two sons, Cameron and Connor.  We made it in 45 days.  At the end, I was about to throw my bike in the trash!  But I quickly got back at it.  In 2013, I rode from Miami to Key West and back.  Then a few years ago Connor and I rode over the Gotthard pass, from Milan to Zurich.  The last 10k was all cobblestones, which made for interesting riding!



So when I was in Hawaii last summer, and I learned about a volcano called Mauna Kea, I thought, hey, this is something that I would like to do!  The trip was to be with my two sons, a recap to riding across the US.  Then, a few months before we were to go, Cameron told me he thought he was not quite up for doing the ride.  I thought, ok, well at least Connor is in.  But then Connor had an offer to go to Bangkok, and suddenly I was on my own for doing the ride.  Fortunately Darla, my SO, was willing to go along with me and provide support.

The Mauna Kea ride is to raise money for Row New York.  Row NewYork began in 2002 with the simple idea that competitive rowing paired with rigorous academic support for underserved youth could change the trajectory of their teen years and beyond.  Row New York has since taught thousands of young people the sport of rowing, and through it the values of tenacity, focus, teamwork, and confidence.   Row New York has a transformative impact on the kids it serves.  Ninety percent of the kids we serve graduate with a four year college degree, that compares to 9% in a comparable population.

My plan is to match the first $20,000 that we raise, so I am hoping the ride will amount to a significant contribution through our collective generosity.

You can access the fundraising site here: (add link)

Mauna Kea is not just any ride.  It's billed as the toughest bicycle climb on earth.  Mauna Kea is 14,400 feet high.  Its not the distance that is a challenge, but the altitude.  At sea level, the atmosphere is 21% oxygen.  By the time you reach the summit of Mauna Kea at 14,400, there is 12% oxygen.  So you need two breaths (almost) to every one at sea level to stay even. 

Amount of Oxygen at Different Altitudes

 

If you are walking that is not too bad, but riding a bike up 15-20% grades, well that is a different matter!

The 42 mile ride starts out easy enough.  My plan is to start from Hilo, on the east side of the big island of Hawaii:



Getting Ready

I have trained, but honestly not as much as a should have.  I'm hoping technology will help me - specifically my bike!  I had the gearing changed on my bike to optimize my chance to make it up the mountain.  

My Bike


I'm hoping this gives me a fighting chance!

Close Up of the New Gearing




About the Ray vs. The Volcano

So what is it about this whole 'Ray vs. The Volcano' thing, anyway?  And who would be crazy enough to try this?  Well, you may have seen a movie called 'Joe vs. the Volcano.'



Those of a certain age might remember the 1990 romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Hanks plays a man who, after being told he is dying of a rare disease, accepts a financial offer to travel to a South Pacific island and throw himself into a volcano on behalf of the superstitious natives.  Along the way, he meets and falls in love with the woman taking him there.  Well, I don't have a life threatening disease, but it is a volcano (yes it's been a while - last eruption 2460 BC), and I also have my own Meg Ryan look-alike - my SO Darla Sweet (the cute one on the right)!  She is also an RN, which might come in handy!


 So we figured, hey, why not!

So What are the Details

Well, the plan is to do this thing in one day.  We arrive in Hilo late on the evening of the 5th of March, and return on the 11th of March.  That gives me five days to try and make the summit.  The weather is extremely variable.  Today for example while its 78 degrees at sea level, at the summit is it 28 degrees F, with a 30 mph wind - brrr), So you are not certain what day you will be able to make the ascent.

My plan is to try on Monday the 7th of March.  If I fail, I'l give myself a day or two of rest and try later in the week, up until the last day I can try, March 10th.  It's not unheard of to have snow at the summit this time of year, so maybe I will get lucky and the whole thing will get called off due to weather, and we can just lounge at the beach!