Quote Originally Posted by lawnchick22 View Post
Yes...we did it last August. Incredible ride, views, pain etc.
We knew we needed to start ultra early because of the weather..clouds roll in around 930 10am and wanted to beat that....well, we didn't make it. Started at like 4am and by the time we got to the visitor center, 11 miles from the top, it had already started raining...and it was windy and it was getting cold -- yes, in Maui in August it was cold. It was a difficult ride, but so glad we did it.
Making plans to go back in 2012 or 2013 and do it again.
Next time you go, you may want to look into the cabins inside the crater. We've hiked/camped in the crater many times and it really is spectacular. The cabins sleep 8, have cooking supplies, wood burning stove (yes, it gets cold up there!), out house, water that needs to be boiled, bunk beds, big table. You bring in/out food, sleeping bags, trash. Cabins are about $65 a night and the hike isn't too bad. Going down Sliding Sands is a hard trail no matter how you cut it.

Might be an option for your next trip! If you knew someone that could haul your bags up to the top and take your bikes down and keep them while you camp/hike.

Max of 3 nights in the crater. Max of 2 nights at any one cabin.

Denise