Note: This site is currently focused on summiting Waialeale... it will soon also include other crazy hikes such as tributaries of the waimea river and exploring the canyon, mile long underground tunnels, Kalalau, Blue hole, the Alakai, Koke'e and more... stay tuned!
Before the Advenutre
Kauai, the beuatiful island of which I currenlty live on, is home of Kawaikini, Waialeale; the wettest summit, and on some years, the wettest place on Earth. When I first moved here somewhere I was told that, "You can't get to Waialeale and even if you could you would not be able to stand on it." When I actually decided to think about this for a moment I realized it sounded a bit crazy. I knew there was a a rain gauge there so one CAN stand on it. I started to research how one might get there and found it is indeed very possible to hike to Waialeale as well at is summit, Kawaikini, the very summit of Kauai. Special thanks to waialeale.org and all of its contributors. Bob Burd's and "The Gang of Four's" trip reports were invaluable!
It seemed the most the important things to do for the trip were to:
1. Bring a map
2. Bring a compass
3. Bring a GPS
4. **Be careful and respectful of the area. There are several severely endangered plants and birds in the region.**
When I first told Sean, my boyfriend and frequent wonderful hiking companion, I was going to hike there he was interested though slightly hesitant. We decided to go do a simple hike of the Mohihi trail to Koaie Stream (a hike we had done part of it a long time ago but not recently). This hike is the first 4 miles of the hike to Waialeale and is mainly maintained. It traverses a forest beyond comprehensible beauty!
A couple weeks later we decided to set out for Waialeale. We could not have picked a better time to go. Not only was there a full moon (whose light we luckily did not NEED but it was nice to know it would be there if we did need it) but the rainfall and cloud cover were very minimal!
And the Adventure Begins...
We set out on a Thursday afternoon to make our way through the beautiful forest to camp for the night by Koaie stream. The forest was drenched in a myriad of shades of green. Though it did not have the red and purple and violet flowers one would typical associate with a "secrete garden" it was more vibrant then any other place I have seen. I slept well that night, filled with excitement for what was ahead. We awoke with the Sun, packed up camp and ate and headed out on our trek!
Some navigation troubles.
We set out for our next way point, the "arrow," a log with an arrow carved in it that may or may not have been moved or gone. We did have the GPS coordinates so we figured it would not be a big deal if we did not find the actual log. Wrong! Once we arrived at the GPS waypoint we sought out the "trail" to Sincock's Bog that was supposed to be a little hard to find. It ended up being a lot more difficult! We first tried wondering the area a bit in the direction of the next way point. We bumped into some flags that went somewhat in the direction we wanted to go. Being unsure how "straight" the path to the Bog would be we headed out to see where it went. It started to wind a bit away from Sincock's but thought maybe it was just a bit "windy" so kept going a bit but eventually got to a point where we were too far off track (checking the GPS again) and headed back.
We again tried to find the path and found some other flags that were going "almost" in the right direction and so we decided to try that route. We ended up near a stream with flags going the OPPOSITE direction of our way point. At that point we turned around again. We had been on a birder's path and this particular path ended up being by far the hardest part of the entire hike. Those Bird people are CRAZY! We went back to the vicinity of the arrow again and after wondering around for a while Sean thought that perhaps the original way we went was right and we had not taken it far enough. Though I was hesitant to re-traverse a path we thought was the wrong way I did not have any better idea of where to go so we tried it out anyways... Yep, it was still the wrong way to go. Came back again and then we decided to just start walking in the direction that based on the maps looked like it would eventually have to run into the trail. We ran into A trail, and though it looked like a birders trail again, it also was going in the direction that felt like an intersect course with the trail we were seeking. At this point daylight was waining so we found a clear area within the nests of Alakai trees, set up camp and went to sleep, hoping the next day, after some rest, our adventure would go better.
Saturday morning, we awoke amongst the verdure, packed up and headed out, still in search of the trail to lead us to the bogs. Yey, 45 minutes into hiking the bird trail we found it.!
Other worlds
The path we then followed felt wide and open compared to the thick birder's trails that we got drawn into the previous day. Rather quickly we arrived at our next way point. Our surroundings changed in the blink of an eye! We made it to "Sincocks' Bog" and the sudden difference in scenery was straight out of a dream! A wide open area of short little plants and sponge like grounds. How wondrous and beautiful it was!
As we passed through the world of bogs we entered a new kind of forest, again changing in a flash. We eventually bumped into the pink flags discussed in Bob Burd's trip report. As he did, we also followed them and they led us along the crater rim. Down below was an obviously thick forest, and though beautiful looking, appeared much more treacherous. Yes, the pink flag route involved some climbing above and below obstacles and lots of getting muddy; sometimes we would take a step and sink into mud beyond our knees, but none the less it was a rather enjoyable and beautiful jungle gym to traverse. We did do some periodic GPS checking and regular compass (and sun) checking and in some regions the flags were a little hard to spot, but navigation was a lot easier then it had been the previous day!
Way way out there
Exiting this forest led to another change in scenery and another new dream land! We were very close to the Blue hole and at this point we followed yellow caution tape that had been used as flags. It led us the way up to the fence. From here we followed the fence to the Blue Hole. We arrived at shortly after noon of March 27th 2010! We were so excited we could hardly contain ourselves! Further more it was sunny and clear and we were surrounding by beauty and fabulous views. It was so clear out Poor Sean even got a sun burn. Yikes!
We made it!
We took in the beuaty and snapped a bunch of photos. Then we sat down and had a picnic at the rain gauge! Sean had brought bagles and cream cheese. I thought he was crazy when we were packing but was sooooo happy to have them when we were up there! YUMMY YUMMY!
We then explored the area like crazy! It was so beautiful and so unique!
Click here for a larger version
I took a series of photos for a full 360. I did not have the concept of making this panoramic image in mind when I did it so it did not come out great but here is is none the less. Click here for a larger version
The trek to Kawaikini
We headed towards Kawaikini, the summit of Kauai itself about a mile south of the rain gauge. Walking there felt like a walk on an alien planet. Nothing around us was familiar. The plant life consisted of almost jet black moss and small shrubbery whose uniqueness was captivating. The ground absorbed the feet and was squishy. As we continued on, some mist started to roll up from over the edge as though the mountain was alive and taking a deep breath. After the almost mesmerizing walk across the plateau, we made it to the summit; the very summit of the island and the pinnacle of one of the most wondrous places I have ever traversed.
I was recently told that I may be the first documented case of a female summiting! I am guessing there are likely non-documented cases out there of other women making it to the summit of Kawaikini, but this was cool to hear! There do seem to be cases of making it to the rain gauge, but not Kawaikini. I have also heard that this was one of only few documented cases of making it on a first attempt. The Gang of Four being one of them, whose trip report I used to aid me on this trip! :-)
We were so pleased to have made it. Both of us first time summiters and both of us on our first attempt! The hike had been hard but navigation was the hardest part!
What is that on my pants? Left over remnants of the poncho I had duct taped to my pants. I have all the pieces. Sean thinks I should tape them back up to use for the next trip up! (kidding). The pants were great to have on the first day even though the did not last! Sean's pants did not last either!
Heading back
At that point, after about 3 hours or so, the fog started to cover the area and it was getting late. 2 hours until dark. We hiked just under 2 hours out and made it to a pretty good site to sleep. We went to bed happy and felt pretty ready for the hike out the next day.
When we woke up and set out, everything we learned on the way in made the hike out a breeze. The weather was a big foggy and wet that day.
We ran into arrow on the way back...
...and made it out in less then 8 hours. A total of 9.5 hours from the summit back! AND Getting back to the car felt like a "summit" as well. Super 'ripped' Sean posed accordingly. :-)
See Gallery for more photos and fabulous views of Kauai that we got from up there!
The End
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