Right to left Brian, Anna, Tanager, Travis and Honokoa gulch |
We departed with a larger group than I could accommodate with my gear. We were two harnesses shy because of the tag alongs. I should start my own company, I already have gear for eight. We took three cars leaving the truck at the bottom of the canyon and driving up to the top where we would drop in around noon. All ten of us and Makai started down the north branch of the canyon so we could skirt the houses and the big drops at the beginning of the trek and gain more ground faster. We did end up coming upon more people then we anticipated; eventually we all ran through a field to avoid walking right next to some people putting in a fence. When we made it back to the canyon we were past the confluence of two streams, there were two huge waterfalls before and one immediately after the streams connected and we had a great vantage point where we were standing hundreds of feet above it.
After chasing a heard of about 500 feral goats we found a way back into the canyon. The scene was perfect; sun from above, rain from the east with no clouds in sight, beautiful flowers and green grass everywhere because of the twenty or so inches of rain we had received this year on the dry side of the mountains. We strolled along the river banks until someone spotted an unfortunate goat bloated and floating in an eddy. Everyone wanted to chill on the green grass and swim in a pristine pond so they decided to hang out upstream while I scoped the scene a hundred feet below. Not very far away there was a waterfall about twenty yards tall with a perfect anchor and rigging spot. Had the situation not been so fortunate we probably would have bailed back out of the canyon and looked for a way around, but we had the gear and I had already dropped the rope by the time anyone else got a look.
Anna on rope with the crew standing on the rocks below |
We quickly scurried down a cliff through a dry stream bed and up the other side. I saw a road and a subdivision on the map and decided I would like to head for that. I hung back with Tyler at that point hoping that everyone would make an effort to stay together, but we were moving slower and even the dog ditched us. We caught up to a portion of our group flashing lights up the hill in the dark and stopped for a brief snack of Nutella and sardines. Not the most appetizing dinner but enough sustenance to keep us going. Again the group took off and was a few hundred yards away from us before we got moving.
For the next hour and a half Tyler and I made our way towards some lights off in the distance, we just kept trudging along hoping we were close to our destination but beyond the point of worrying. The weather was perfectly comfortable, warm with a soft breeze from the mountain. At any moment I could have laid down and fallen asleep, but I didn't want to even mention the idea because it sounded so much easier than the situation we were in. The lights in the distance never seemed to get any closer even after crossing a dozen gulches. At some point Tyler noticed the lights were from Kohala Ranch Rd. still miles away from us and we changed our course immediately heading straight down hill. After ten minutes Tyler said, "A Watertower!" and I hardly even heard him until he told me to stop. Right next to us was a huge water tank and upon approaching it the whole subdivision below us came into view. We were finally at a road, we just had no idea where.
Surprisingly enough the road offered no console to our tired soles.We could move at a faster pace than the grassy rocks we had been tripping on for hours, but our tired legs could hardly take the impact of pavement so we ended up walking backwards until we came to a street sign and found out where we were. We phoned the others who were just making it back to the truck, sat down on the corner and we were picked up in no time. With a bed full of eight dirty wet adventurers we descended upon the only restaurant left open in Kohala, The Seafood Bar. We hardly said a word as we sucked down dark beers and late night happy hour pupus. We had a few people ask what we were up to; I'm sure that ten people sitting at a table giggling hardly saying a word and ravenously stuffing our faces were quite a scene. We left as the restaurant closed and headed up the mountain to our vehicles. This would end up being the worst part of the adventure. After nearly nine hours, six miles of hiking and 3500 feet of decline there was nothing comfortable about sitting in a truck in the cold wet Waimea wind with full bellies an cramping muscles. But, we made it. All of us, and with only sore muscles and scratched ankles to show for it. Not bad considering the amount of unknowns thrown into the situation. I did apologize to my friends as we loaded up, but they only laughed it off and said they really enjoyed it. I actually believe them now after hearing all the stories and comments from people I don't even know. I really enjoyed it too. After talking to a few of my local friends I discovered that they too have done the same route, and that the gate on the other side of the canyon leads directly down to where we parked the truck only two hours away via the road. Oh well, next time. I also heard somewhere that staying in the canyon is a guaranteed full day, about 18 hours. Now that is an epic adventure.
nice pics! Looks like a beautiful hike even tho it was long.
ReplyDeletegorgeous, nice adventure :)
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