Outside The Loop

Bummer. I missed the Sunday loop hike from the President's Day weekend. Was messed up from the prior day's beating and needed to recover from the flu.

Definitely need to complete this trail sometime. Maybe we can have a picnic there. We'll see.

Solo Stupido

There's a well known saying that says to never hike alone. You should always have a companion and carry a cellphone. It's sensible rule to live by and speaks to personal safety.

But I'm not a rules kind of guy. To me, rules are just guidelines that most are afraid to deviate from. Sometimes circumstances demand change and sometimes shit happens. The combination of the two best describes what this hike was all about.

This past holiday weekend played host to the next party hike. There were a few interesting twists to this one. The planner was one of past hike's converts! Due to scheduling issues the outting was planned for Sunday rather than Saturday. We were also starting a new trail, a loop.

Based on the experience of others and information from various hiking posts we learned the trail was quick and easy. It would be a perfect filler until the next big hike could be setup. Interest was already good with about 6 to 8 people so plans were confirmed and everything was set.

Since the weekend was long and the trail short I decided to squeeze a solo hike in for Saturday. The general consensus was to either take a break from hiking or to save it for Sunday. I would have waited but felt compelled to go. As such I set out to finish off the same long hard trail that was referred to in the Long Run and Heat Is On posts.

They say "three times a charm" so I hoped that didn't also mean "three strikes and you're out". As the weekend approached it seemed I had struck out completely ending up with the flu. My joints ached, my gut wrenched, and my energy drained and waned.

To say the least, the timing was awful. My previous engagements had to be canceled. I could only think of resting and avoiding contact with anyone else. Hopefully, the flu or whatever it was would allow me to enjoy at least one day of the weekend.

Imagine my surprise when I woke early Saturday morning and prepared for a long, hard day of hiking. I felt like shit but was determined to get out and get onto the trail. After some final checks I was on my way to the spot.

I hit the trail earlier than the last two trips. When I got there I actually felt much better almost as if I was cured. No nausea. No stomach aches. Only very minor joint pain but mostly in my bad shoulder.

Within minutes I was already at the lookout. The air was cool and breezy with the sun hidden by clouds. It worked to my advantage initially but the overcast conditions would bite me in the ass as the day progressed.

Sadly, the good times were coming to an abrupt end. In less than 10 minutes I would be plagued by an endless bout of aches, cramps, and exhaustion. A nightmare in the making that would last another 6 hours!!

The way it happened was stupid and my own fault. Had I not been out hiking there'd be no problem but that wasn't the case. I was here and not alone.

Throughout the day there were 6 sets of groups. The first two came up shortly after the lookout. There were two sets of families hiking up ahead of me. I passed a few of their party but came to a crawl at the base of a long snaky hill.

Instead of allowing me to pass in an open area of the trail they stopped at unusually bad spot. It was right below an elevated hill that required a lot of step-ups or climb-ups depending on your momentum. As they closed in behind me I had no choice but to cold run from that position up the hill. By the time I reached the top I was spent.

From that point on, the flu symptoms returned. Breathing got very hard as my heart pounded away. I pushed on to keep ahead of the others if only to keep from a repeat peformance.

The rest of the hike was a death march. Everytime I reached a rest stop I laid out to relieve the cramping. It was a dizzying, nauseating rush. I was mentally ready but physically broke.

After a whole lot of work I finally got to the spot we ended last trip. I could tell there was at least an hour more of solid work ahead. As I closed on the goal I knew it would be a total waste to quit.

Eventually I found my way to the base of the final ridge to the summit. The climb was 150' to 200'. I think it's that cause I was so beat I started to get delirious at that point.

I was reluctant to continue without a long rest but had no choice. The rest areas were long past and the cramps were building to a devastating crescendo. This would be the only chance before I'd have to turn around.

Fortunately, part of another group of hikers had already started their ascent up the ridge. They gave me the motivation I needed. Sucking it up I pressed on and up until reaching the summit.

The view was great and well worth the pain. It was so windy though and I was tiring just standing against the wind. Some quick pix and I was gone.

More pain all the way down. It wasn't all downhill either so it sucked and required resting, stretching, and cussing. Legs felt beyond jelly and the cramps were getting cramps. By the time I got out it was in the early evening and the sun was about an hour from setting.

Obviously I was so phuked up when I got home that I slept through the real hike on Sunday!!!

Group Hike

Note to self and anyone interested: LIE!! We did the recon thing trying to get a feel for the trail and to provide helpful information to the hiking party. But the post seemed to kill everyone's fight instead of calm their nerves.

It went down like this. The update went out Monday, filled with additional details and precautions. Aside from some minor changes it also confirmed the estimated length of the combo-trail hike and a few more tips. In hindsight, the information seemed to confirm how bad a time it would be.

That was my bad. A few poorly chosen words along with TMI gave the idea this was to be taken very seriously rather than to be enjoyed. Though that was far from the intent I can see how it became overwhelming.

Regrettably on the day of the hike our party was reduced from a nearly 20 person group to 8. Illness, timing, and uneasiness factored into the result. Still, we regrouped and had a great time.

There were a number of revelations that came about after the hike. Mostly good I'll focus on these before hitting the bad. The 8 person party consisted of 2 original members and 6 new ones of varying levels of experience. They have since expressed interest in other hikes.

As the week drew on, others heard stories of the hike. They came to appreciate the experiences of those that participated. I think it was a relief to learn opportunities for additonal hikes would not be closed to them.

However, a downside to the good was a personal bad for me. Already on the fourth hike of the year I was burnt out. The mind and spirit were ready but the endless assault of workout+hiking every week did a number on the old shell. I ended up sick from physical exhaustion but the worse wouldn't manifest itself until the following week (the last pic says it all!).

In spite of a small turnout, the hike proved to be another catalyst in generating more supporters. Our group would grow and create more hiking opportunities for all. I could now move back into the shadows taking a less active role in planning.

Recon

In an effort to introduce more people to the magic of naycha we decided to plan an easy going group hike. It started out as a beginner-level outting that everyone could get into. The trail I originally had in mind was the same one referred to in the Walk In The Park post. Quick and easy with lots of pix to take.

With the big day approaching so did the focus of the hike. Instead of a single trail it soon became a combo-trail consisting of three intersecting trails. Each required a different level of skill with the last section being the easiest and most picturesque.

Two of the three trails are the subject of previous hiking posts. The first was the starting point for all of the "muddy" hikes we did. And as stated previously, the Walk In The Park trail was the last part. It would be the middle trail that was shrouded in mystery especially since we'd never done it.

Game day was only a week away and participation suddenly peaked. There was some stress to ensure a safe, fun time for all and with good reason. This would be the last hike for me as planner so success would mean perpetuity and continued interest as the group grew bigger. On the other hand a disastrous or bad time would certainly keep the hobby limited to our small group.

That same weekend I decided to run a recon hike. Due to recent rainy weather it would be a good opportunity to check trail conditions, verify all trails were interconnected, and determine timing and difficulty level. The data would come in handy for all participants in final preparation (I thought).

I planned to run a solo recon trip through the trails. This was generally a safe system so I wasn't concerned although I should have been. It never occured to me that once I completed the first leg (trail-1 to trail-2 to trail-3) I'd have to work my way backwards most of which was uphill. Fortunately my aching feet would be spared when it became a duo hike with one of us parking at the start and the other at the end.

We met outside trail-3's exit then jumped into one car and headed up to trail-1 before starting off. The trailhead revealed nice dry conditions which helped expedite the journey. Except for a few small streams along the way there were relatively few signs of the recent rainy weather.

With little effort we reached trail-2 and were suprised to learn the trail conditions were a bit more slick, muddy, and hazardous. Caution was important as we proceeded downhill through the forest of bamboo. There were areas where parts of the path were seriously eroded and others where branches and other debris blocked the walkway.

The trail led entirely downhill just as I hoped. My contention was that the trail led eventually exited somewhere near the valley waterfall. Continuing along the winding path would either lead us within 20' of that spot or end with a long, hard walk back up the mountain.

Within 10 minutes it was obvious there were was recent erosion due to flashflooding. An uprooted tree lay across the trail. Snapped branches and several landslides marked the path as well. Even evidence of a large boulder or object crashing into a tree leaving wood splinters suggested danger. This along with slick footing and the inesecable mud and water puddles all attributed to the distinctiveness of the trail.

After about an hour or so the waterfall was finally in earshot. We could hear the rumbling of water crashing into the shallow pool below. As we approached the trail junction we knew our mission was coming to a close.

The final trail was by far the easiest and it would be a quick exit. Having made good time and with little difficulty our concern was the trail conditions. Various groups tend to maintain the trail system so we hoped they would clear out the debris by next weekend. We'd see how things went over the week and were looking forward to the return visit with everone else.

The Long Run

Ok, well not quite a run but it certainly was a long hike! I mean we hit the same dry trail as before thinking we had it all figured out. But wouldn't you know it, naycha still had its way with us by throwing in some extra difficulties and hazards. Still, it was great overall.

It went down as a three man hike. We started off late with some last minute errands. I woke up late and had to pick-up some bananas. Luckily the guys were also a bit back so we decided to meet at the trail.

About a half hour late but still earlier than our last visit we hit the trail unsure of the morning terrain. Our expectations of a dry trail turned to greater caution and inconvenience. The ground was covered with slight layer of dew causing everything to be slick. Rocks, boulders, trees, bushes, plants, and grass were all unfriendly terrain.

After an hour or so of slipping and sliding, the rising sun followed by the warm air was a welcome change. The dew evaporated quickly and we made up some time with the increased traction. Within 20 or 30 minutes we were back on track.

This was the second trip up here for me and Stink but Joe's first. He did well in keeping pace and tried not to push it too much. Our goal was to complete the trail, ending up on the koolau range for some great sites. We all had cameras and wasted no time on pix along the way.

In time, we arrived at the spot where we ended the previous trip. We took our first long break there having some snacks and stretching nicely. The sun was nearly overhead and the heat was building so we moved on.

As the sun continued to rage overhead, we found ourselves seeking cover under trees, bushes, and boulders. Shade was hard to find along the ridge. Most of the cover came when we were faced with long climbs which were a killer to do.

The trail beyond the rest spot was filled with dips and climbs. It was an endless uphill battle made worse with the increasing heat. We were unprepared for the combination and it showed with the dwindling supply of water. I recommend doubling up on your water if you take this trail.

It wasn't all pain and suffering as there was some glimpses of hope and a genuine treasure around the bend. The sound of rushing water could be heard in the distance. I recognized it immediately and was excited to find the source of the waterfall.

We pushed on and eventually found it. The waterfall was on a parallel ridge a few hundred feet away. Though we were in no condition to blaze down to it the sight was remarkable.

Unlike most falls in the area this one is staggered. It has three or four levels with the top opening into a crater. Our vantage point couldn't really provide much detail so I'm assuming the water is probably from a stream running through the crater. Regardless, the view demanded another long break filled with still and video shots.

Finally moving on we realized there was much ground to cover. We were getting much closer to the target range but still saw much ridge work ahead. The day was slipping beyond our grasp and we had to move.

After a few more hours of climbing, we finally decided to turn back. Bodies tiring and running low on supplies we chose a final point to investigate before leaving. At this time, we must have been around three to five hours in.

Our decision to stop turned out to be the right one. Within minutes a large group of clouds that had been lingering over the range started rolling in. They brought strong winds and rain and were heralded by a rainbow barrier.

The rainbow brought cool breezes and very light showers. As long as we kept ahead of it, we were in paradise. Too far ahead meant heat exhaustion and it would be a drenching if we let it pass us.

It was more of the same on the two or three hour return trip. Climbs. Slips. Falls. Water conservation. Plant watering. Swearing. And, of course more pix!

By the time we got out, the sun was starting its descent. We were tired and mui hungry. There was some initial talk of pounding food and that's what we finally decided on. Turned out to be another long run but this time at Camillia all you can eat and we did exactly that!