GUNUNG · Amerika Serikat (Hawaii)

Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa (Hawaii: gunung panjang)

Information

Elevation: 4.169 m
Country: Amerika Serikat (Hawaii) (US)
Location / Range: Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Mountain type: Giant shield volcano — the largest active volcano in the world by volume and area
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 19.4833, -155.6000
Difficulty: Strenuous. A non-technical climb but extreme due to the summit altitude of about 4,169 m, long distance, and backcountry remoteness. Serious risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS)
Best Season: Possible year-round, but heavily dependent on weather, winter snow at the summit, and eruption/access status — checking the latest conditions with the NPS is mandatory
Permits & Rules: An NPS backcountry permit is mandatory for all overnight trips (the Red Hill/Puʻuʻulaʻula cabin and the Mauna Loa Summit Cabin); overnight stays are limited to a maximum of 3 consecutive nights per location
Hazards: Altitude & AMS at ~4,169 m (the main treatment is to descend), sharp lava/volcanic rock terrain, sudden weather changes including snow and freezing temperatures, extreme remoteness with no water source, and active volcanic hazards. After the November 2022 eruption, the Mauna Loa Trail was damaged so the Summit Cabin cannot be reached via that route — verify the latest status with the NPS

Description

Mauna Loa (4,169 m) is a giant shield volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi and the world's largest active volcano by volume and area — its Hawaiian name means "long mountain", a nod to its far-reaching, gentle slopes. Rather than a steep cone, Mauna Loa spreads out broad and low-angled, so climbing it means covering long distances over open lava terrain at extreme altitude rather than technical climbing. Its summit is crowned by the dramatic Mokuʻaweoweo caldera. Two main trails lead up: the Mauna Loa Observatory Trail, the shortest route, starting from the weather observatory at around 3,400 m and climbing to the caldera rim and summit; and the long, multi-day Mauna Loa Trail from the Kīlauea side via the Red Hill (Puʻuʻulaʻula) cabin. The greatest challenge is not technical difficulty but altitude, remoteness, and weather that can turn to snow. The November 2022 eruption damaged parts of the trail and access, so hikers must check current conditions and obtain a National Park Service backcountry permit before setting out.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Mauna Loa Observatory Trail (dari Mauna Loa Weather Observatory)

Berat — non-teknis tetapi ekstrem karena ketinggian; jalur terpendek ke puncak

Pendakian harian sangat berat (±6 jam atau lebih pulang-pergi); banyak pendaki memilih bermalam

Jalur tersingkat menuju puncak Mauna Loa, dimulai dari Observatorium Cuaca Mauna Loa pada ketinggian sekitar 3.400 m. Menurut NPS, jaraknya sekitar 5,9 mil (9,5 km) ke Mauna Loa Summit Cabin dan 6,4 mil (10,3 km) ke titik tertinggi, naik melewati tepi kaldera Mokuʻaweoweo di North Pit. Risiko penyakit ketinggian sangat nyata, dan akses jalan observatorium dapat terdampak aliran lava erupsi 2022 — cek kondisi terbaru ke NPS.

Source

Mauna Loa Trail (dari Mauna Loa Lookout via Red Hill / Puʻuʻulaʻula)

Sangat berat — panjang, terpencil, dan menanjak tinggi

Perjalanan backcountry beberapa hari (multi-day backpacking)

Jalur panjang multi-hari dari sisi Kīlauea yang dimulai di Mauna Loa Lookout (ujung Mauna Loa Road). Menurut NPS, ruas ke kabin Red Hill (Puʻuʻulaʻula) sepanjang 7,5 mil (12,1 km) dengan kenaikan sekitar 1.028 m, lalu lanjut ke Mauna Loa Summit Cabin. Semua perjalanan menginap wajib izin backcountry NPS (maks 3 malam per lokasi). Catatan: pasca erupsi 2022, Summit Cabin tidak dapat dicapai lewat jalur ini karena kerusakan jalur — Observatory Trail menjadi alternatif.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Climbers' accounts of Mauna Loa describe a non-technical but very demanding hike due to altitude and distance. Two approaches dominate: the shorter Observatory Trail from the weather observatory at around 3,400 m to the Mokuʻaweoweo caldera rim and summit, and the long, multi-day Mauna Loa Trail via the Red Hill (Puʻuʻulaʻula) cabin. Vlogs and blogs repeatedly highlight open waterless lava terrain, thin air triggering altitude sickness, freezing temperatures and snow at the top, and extreme remoteness. Many stress acclimatisation, pre-dawn starts, and the NPS backcountry permit. Several recent accounts also note the 2022 eruption's impact on observatory road access and damage to the Mauna Loa Trail.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.