Driving on the Summit Access Road
Although Mauna Kea's clear, dry weather has been great for Astronomy this
winter, it has taken it's toll on the cinder road. The MKSS staff has found
it increasingly difficult to maintain this road as it dries out. Please ask
your staff to help by driving slowly and using 4 wheel drive.
Since the road has been widened, the speed of observatory vehicles has
increased. A vehicle driven faster will loosen more cinder and increase the
amount of washboarding on the road.
It has been observed that many observatory vehicles are driven up the cinder
road without 4 wheel drive. This practice also leads to increased road
erosion.
Last updated February 20, 1998
Ron Koehler
koehler@ifa.hawaii.edu