Our Mt. Haleakala Cycling Experience

Haleakala is a 10 023 ft (3055 m) volcanic peak that dominates Maui. We started at 7 am, at 1726' to be precise (which means we cheated c/w the official annual ride here).
30 miles of riding for us.

Temperatures cooled as we climbed, and it became damp as we ascended into the clouds.  Craig made it all the way, but my body rebelled a little below the summit (due to the altitude), and I turned around to the unheated restrooms at 9777'. We carried warm clothes, and they all came to good use. Temp's maybe in the 50s on top. But there was no way I would make it back down in the rain, so we did what the local bike club recommends as the 'manly man's way down': Craig circled the parking lot, found a Swedish woman, whose son, and daughter-in-law, took us down in their large pick up. It in no way felt like cheating, as we had climbed up through the clouds, the road down was soaking wet some 80% of the way, and the hair pin turns were treacherous.
Due to the steady rain on top, we didn't get to see the crater, but I agree with what I had seen described as a 'moon like' landscape over the last mile or so.
On the way up, I had dreams of wine and chocolate to celebrate with dinner, but only recovered enough to enjoy pasta, and a little chocolate.
The main thing is we got down safely, but sadly our kind rescuers told us of a severely injured cyclist, who had passed us early on. We do not know the details, but he crashed on his way down.
This is why the commercial tours that for years took tourists all the way up in vans, so they could ride down, no longer start at the top.
One needs to know one's limits.
Today we are doing laundry, and chatting with our host, who is quite the athlete; the first person to complete the original Ironman twice!