PHOTOS: Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa Snow
Updated March 17, 2015
The summit access road has been open to the public since it reopened Sunday afternoon. Current conditions at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday March, 17 show winds out of the northwest at 24 mph and a temperature of 40°F. Mauna Kea Rangers are asking the public to please stay away from Observatory facilities due to ice falling from structures. The Keck Observatory has closed their parking area due to the danger of ice falling.
Posted Sunday March 14, 2015:
A Blizzard Warning was issued on March 10, 2015 by the National Weather Service in Honolulu. The agency forecasted 5 to 8 inches of snow for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Their predictions were spot on.
Mauna Kea Rangers issued a statement Sunday morning, March 14, 2015, saying “road crews have worked for seven straight days to clear the snow and it is unlikely the road will open today.” Big Island residents were pleasantly surprised when they issued an update early that afternoon indicating the road was clear and the summit access road was open to the public.
Rangers implemented one-way traffic flow from the Summit Y around the loop, counterclockwise and warned visitors to drive carefully being especially vigilant when driving through snow play areas.
**Send us your snow images! Email them to malika@bigislandnow.com or message Malika on Facebook.**
![Image: Kalei Serrao 3.15.15 / He says, "I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build... also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport."](http://bigislandnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20150315_175537_030.jpg)
Image: Kalei Serrao 3.15.15 / He says, “I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build… also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport.”
![Image: Kalei Serrao 3.15.15 / He says, "I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build... also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport."](http://bigislandnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20150315_180349_015.jpg)
Image: Kalei Serrao 3.15.15 / He says, “I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build… also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport.”
![Image: Kalei Serrao 3.16.15 / He says, "I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build... also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport."](http://bigislandnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20150316_161609_016.jpg)
Image: Kalei Serrao 3.16.15 / He says, “I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build… also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport.”
![Image: Kalei Serrao 3.16.15 / He says, "I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build... also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport."](http://bigislandnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20150316_161804_011.jpg)
Image: Kalei Serrao 3.16.15 / He says, “I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build… also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport.”
![Image: Kalei Serrao 3.16.15 / He says, "I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build... also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport."](http://bigislandnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20150316_162224_018.jpg)
Image: Kalei Serrao 3.16.15 / He says, “I met these three guys from Oregon while waiting for the road to open. Ended up hanging with them all day got lucky enough to be a part of the ramp build… also went again today for an hour hike and got some backcountry shots with them. Snowboarder is Justin Norman and skier is Lucas Wachs and Photographer/ramp expert Pete Alport.”
Mauna Kea snow 3.15.15 / Image: Chelsea Demello