First Snowfall 2005
Mauna Kea summit veiled in snow
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Marker pole covered in ice, with Puu Poliahu and Hualalai in the background Same marker pole, looking north with Haleakala on Maui poking up above the clouds. Notice the ice formation on the two poles are in different directions Mauna Kea Support Services work very hard to maintain access to the observatories. Here Tracy Miyashiro grades snow and ice from the road in the pass.
The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility encrusted in snow and ice. The IRTF, like all the telescopes on Mauna Kea are digging themselves out of the frosty precipitation Crazy outreach person standing next to a wall of snow This truck fell off the access road while carrying a load of snow down. The vehicle tumbled at least six times, and the occupants were airlifted to a hospital with minor cuts.
This image was taken after our second winter storm on 2/5/05 from the Craters Rim Drive. Check out this time-lapse of life at the top of Mauna Kea.
Panorama of the summit from IRTF looking south at a snow-topped Mauna Loa
A view from submillimeter valley, looking upward and north. From left to right are the Subaru Telescope, Keck Observatories, NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Gemini Observatory, UH 2.2m, United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, and the UH 0.6m
Below the summit ridge on the IRTF access road, looking west. On the left is Pu'u Poliahu with Hualalai behind. Between Keck and IRTF, Haleakala is present