iceeu2

Thanks for your concern, Bman..I had to laugh out loud at that comment. I guess you think this little fat southern girl can't get into any aerobics, do you.

Little/fat...should be short/stout, or perhaps just undertall!

Samsaf, when do you leave for Hawaii? I may be able to get a few snippets in before you go.

Budman

LOL -- I thought you'd get a kick out of that.

Samsaf

We leave Atlanta on June 4, return on June 12

iceeu2

Samsaf, I'll certainly try to get something to you before June 4th..if not by then, it will definitely be later as the weekend you are returning, I will be at Big Canoe yukking it up with my old college buds.
It's our annual GWO (girls weekend out)!

Bman, did you see the maps I posted the link to on another thread? If not, go to driveguidemagazines.com

These are killer maps.

Budman

No, I haven't looked at them yet, but have them bookmarked. Since this is our first trip to Kauai, I'm looking at and saving almost everything -- feel like I'm getting information overload. So many places/things to do, so little time.

Bons

I hiked the whole trail last June in Keens. They were great. The trail was in the worst condition ever(this was my 5th time). Running water on the first 2 miles and plant overgrowth over much of the trail after that. I will use them again this year. I usually hike it in tennis shoes, but these were much better with all the mud and perfect for the stream crossings.

iceeu2

Well, I'm going to do the hike in my hiking shoes...I may even throw the old ugly boots in (depends on how many pairs of cute shoes I already have).

But, back to the Keens...I got my new Keen Newport H2's and absolutely love them. I have worn them all weekend. I raved about them so much, that we had to get online and find a pair for the real icee...Well, we found a store near us and wala, they even discounted them down to $69...What a deal. They offered to ship them for free, but he needed them NOW, so we got in the car in the pouring rain and drove 40 miles one way for them! Oh well, that's the price you pay for living in the country!

iamq

Bon,
What model of Keen do you have?
-Bill

quimbymoy

hi iceeu2

i just got another pair of keens over the weekend. these are called taos. they are like the h20s ex. this has a back to the shoe and it has a better tread on the bottom, which may be better for a trail like the kalalau.

http://www.zappos.com/n/pair_image.c...color_id=31472

i didn't get them at zappos but at a von maur department store on sale for $67.

tina

sea_wahine

re: sleeping giant & hanakapi'ai hikes.
I am somewhat afraid of heights but oddly enough it was on sleeping giant trail that this was a problem for me. (i am a fit 33 year old). After suffering from heat fatigue from the hike up(it can be really blazing on this trail..bring lotsa h2o) we got to a beautiful shady picnic area and rested for a few minutes. This overlook is very nice..but not the payoff, i think. The trail that continued to get up to the peak overlook was so intense that i ended up clinging to the rocky precipitous cliffside fighting tears while my height loving husband scrambled the rest of the way to check out the view., which he said was indeed marvelous. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience, or if i am just a total chicken!
The hanakapi'ai trail, however challenging the heights were, seemed somewhat easier in that regard to me..and the payoff immeasurably more awesome. total magic and mana! The waterfall is great and you can swim right into the big pool underneath. However..extreme caution is urged because, as with any falls of this height, damage to you from falling rocks is a real hazard.

dfarr

Please, please, please do your research and understand the possible hazards associated with the Kalalau Trail! Last week my wife and I had to hike the 2 miles back out from Hanakapi'ai beach to get emergency medical help for a girl that hiked there with a known heart problem. (there is no cell service much past Haena Beach) Not only was she on new medication but she and her friend were out of food and water when we found them. Emergency crews ended up having to dispatch a Zodiac and a jetski from Hanalei to bring her out to a waiting ambulance at Ke'e beach. The surf was too rough for a beach landing so they had to tow her and a rescue worker on and off the beaches behind the jetski. This is a great hike but it requires some common sense preparation and a respect for the ruggedness of the terrain. Fortunately she got help in time but not without putting a lot of people at risk. Understand and prepare for the hazards and you'll enjoy fond memories of one of the best hikes you'll ever experience!

Budman

iceeu2, are you reconsidering taking this Trail? As much as I would like to hike the sleeping giant trail, I don't think I would want to put Mrs. Budman thru it.

You'll have to let me know about the Kalalau when we GTG. I'm think the 2 miles to/from the falls should be OK as long as I bring lunch/water and stop for a short swim.

quimbymoy

according to "hiking kauai" by robert smith, the kalalau trail from ke'e beach to hanakapa'ai beach is rated as "hardy family" with a 600 foot elevation change, whereas the spur to the falls is "strenuous" with an 800 foot elevation change. i remember the hike as being pretty challenging, not as hard as the hiking i did at the grand canyon, but very "aerobic" with ups & downs.

there are 3 hikes on nounou: east side trail (2 miles, 1250' elevation gain, "hardy family", west side trail (1.5 miles, 1000' elevation gain "hardy family" - not as steep as east side trail & more shade), & kuamoo-nounou trail (1.8 miles, hardy family)

hope that helps. i would also caution about swimming at the falls or beaches. the day i did the hike, someone at ke'e beach drowned when a riptide pulled him under. there are lots of posted signs and they should not be ignored.

tm

iceeu2

Bman, will let you know at the GTG about the trails. We do plan to hike the Kalalau and a few others...will just have to see how far we make it.

As for the person with the known heart condition. Not sure why she did that, but I guess if ya gotta go sometime that's as close to heaven as you can get.

Will check out some hikes now and post what others we possibly will do.

i2

sea_wahine

dfarr.. wow, how intense. Not to mention ouch for yourself..that part of the hike takes alot of aerobic work even at a leisurely pace and whoo the technical work on the root beds and stream lines. She's lucky you guys came along in time, fer sure. I second your opinion to be prepared and knowledgable about where you are and about your own possible physical limitations and how much you should push them. Did you find your way back to do the hike up the stream (ugh, i dunno if i would have)?! It is such a beautiful hike.
An aside to hiking advocates and afficionados, if the stream is even slightly gnarly..Use your brain and consider not doing the hike, folks..it gets really wet and slippery (a few stream crossings here) at the very least and clinging to the wet rocks to save your wet okole is only a few nuts idea of fun! The falls are big even when the stream is low. That book, hiking kauai, is a really good one, i've found. i read and reread the kalalalu entry like 3000 times befire getting the courage to make the hike(i am moderately height phobic). i think we took the tougher trail on sleeping giant. At least the one with not much shade.

dfarr

sea_wahine....Unfortunatly no we didn't make it back this time. By the time we were sure she was safe it was mid-afternoon and we were beat. Our plan was to return at least to the bamboo grove where we carved our names on ourlast trip which was our 30th aniversary and vowed to return to do it again. I guess we'll just have to go back again! For those with questions about Sleeping Giant trail, we did the east trail one morning and enjoyed it. I advise you to start early beacause most of the first part of the trail is in direct sun and the heat seemed to just radiate off the trail. (seemed very dry and deserty compared to Kalalau) We also did the hike at the end of the Waimea Canyon road out to the point it intersects with the swamp trail. We were lucky enough to have perfectly clear views all the way out but on the way back it was entirely fogged in. Try to get there by 9-10 am and your chances are much better to have clear views.

sea_wahine

dfarr.. that is so romantic(initials in the hanakapia'i bamboo). I remember noticing some etching on those the few times we've done that hike. Have you folks been to maui? The hike just south of hana to the falls above the ohe'o pools goes through an even grander bamboo forest. Knocked my socks off. The trail is very easy compared to the 3 we've discussed..but just gorgeous and a lovely waterfall at the end, of course.
Was the koke'e trail you took the pihea one? We did that and thought it was fabulous! We had the same experience with the weather fine and dandy on the way on and real socked in on the way out. Got very muddy and turned back after the trail seemed to be turning into a swamp!
I was amazed by the bird songs that fill the air from the alaka'i marsh on this trail. Hope your next anniversary trip comes up soon..aloha!

iceeu2

ttt for SloPugs

SloPugs

What does "ttt" mean?

iceeu2

to the top
take to top