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Walking on the Mauna Kea’s summit on the Humu’ula foot trail

IMG_3365I woke up at 2:59am … no time to hesitate getting up. We wanted to leave at 4:00am to start our ascent at 5:30am. Herwig should take the car and watch the sunrise from up.
Kjell and myself thought we’d make it walking in 3 hours, a distance of little bit more than 10k, to admire the sun rising by the Waiau lake. What an overestimation of our own capabilities!
To the very summit it took us 51/2 hours. The experience will stick to our memories for ever.

The sun is about to rise. The light is just magic.
The sun is about to rise. The light is just magic.

 

Before sunrise.
Before sunrise.

 

The light, the view, the decent traces of life and deep insight into the world’s coming into being, you are so close to the beginning and the end of it all. The saying „from dust we come to dust we go“ becomes so evident, so undoubtedly seizable.

Amazing the red colors of iron in the sunlight.
Amazing the red colors of iron in the sunlight.

 

Traces of former life among the lava pebbles.
Traces of former life among the lava pebbles.

 

 

Another beautiful with the colors of iron.
Another beautiful red color of iron.

 

In the early morning the ice crystals are stills are growing out of the humid soil.
In the early morning the ice crystals are growing out of the humid soil.

 

The  leaving creatures thriving on the lava rocks.
The living creatures thriving on the lava rocks.

 

Granite stones piling up at on spot only.
Granite stones piling up at on spot only.

Well, we knew that we had start very slowly to get tuned in. Especially me, who has been climbing and hiking in the Alps expected a far easier walk. Never, I thought that I would reach my limits in a way completely unable to jump over them.

The steps don't come easy anymore.
The steps don’t come easy anymore.

 

To keep the balance with all the camera equipment was sometimes difficult.
To keep the balance with all the camera equipment was sometimes difficult.

 

At some point you were just on eye level with the clouds.
At some point you were just on eye level with the clouds.

 

After sunrise the bright colors of the lava accompanied us to the mountain's summit
After sunrise the bright colors of the lava accompanied us to the mountain’s summit

My fingers turned blue the higher up we came telling me that the periphery of my blood circulation was more and more closing down, my fingertips felt undernourished with this typical tickling, my heart was pumping like crazy, bouncing up my throat, my head started aching and my steps became slower and slower … We had to accept all the signs of the reduced oxygen supply, no way to ignore or even override them.

The scared place of lake Waiau lets you feel the spirit of the ancestors of the Hawaiian people.
The scared place of lake Waiau lets you feel the spirit of the ancestors of the Hawaiian people.

 

Slowly slowly life evolves from stones.
Slowly slowly life evolves from stones.

When the trail ended and we had to take the last 100m on the asphalt road to the summit, I thought this piece of the path will never end. You get this feeling that you may lose your balance at any time and your system may collapse. Finally after all these hours we were standing up there on the summit with its breath-taking view, happy, but exhausted and emotionally touched.

A place of meditation that gives the tired body lots of energy back.
A place of meditation that gives the tired body lots of energy back.

 

The last step to the summit were the worst. You feel how essential oxygen is for us.
The last steps to the summit were the worst. You feel how essential oxygen is for us.

 

Susann

Susann

Susann is the biest prototype and head of the team. She is Austrian, has studied medicine, meaning she is a medical doctor and the Biesters' alpha wolf. Susann continuously produces new ideas, is strong in making concepts and is practically always ON FIRE. Without her BIESTMILCH wouldn't be where and what it is today, and anyway - not possible.

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1 Comment

  1. Thanks, great post. How long ago did you get a picture of Lake Waiau? I was concerned when I found out it was shrinking at one time. Thanks so much. I am so happy you were fortunate enough to enjoy that experience.

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