Hiking List

You can find out anything and everything about anyone on Facebook, except for yourself, apparently ....  When I hike I always post pics, including location, date and who was with me.  The other day I was trying to remember which hikes I have done, and where I want to hike next.  (As you can see from the list below, it's not really that many, you'd think I could keep it straight.)  I went to FB and started to search - even tried their new "grid search", whatever the heck that is.  Useless.  Compiling this short list took me WAY longer than I thought, so to prevent this from happening again, I decided to make a permanent list here, on my blog, where I know I can find it again.   The photos might disappear, if Google does something goofy again, but at least the text will be here.

Completed Hikes -

 Manana Falls/Pools (1/19/2014 w/Cathy)

 

Likeke Falls (1/1/2014 w/Jen & 1/11/2014 w/YW)

 




Aiea Loop Trail (12/24/2013)

Diamond Head (7/27/2013 & 2/24/14) 
245 stairs (I counted)

2/24/14

Kealia Hiking Trail @ Mokuleia (7/4/2013, 3/16/2013)



Lanikai Pill Box Trail (6/22/2013) 
 


Wiliwilinui Ridge. (5/27/2013)
 


Laie Falls Trail.(12/15/2012)
 


Mañana Trail (12/8/2012)
 


Manoa Falls Trail (5/26/2012)

Kaena Point (1/24/2012 w/Cathy & Q to the point and back from Waianae side, 1/25/2014 w/ Jen from Waianae to North Shore and back 11.3 miles)
 

Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail(2010 w/Angela, Mallory and Quincie & 2/17/20114 w/Ryker & Taylor)

Manawili Falls Trail (2007 ??)
I took pics on this hike, on my crummy flip phone camera.  Upon returning home I dropped my muddy pants into the washing machine, with said phone in the pocket.  The phone survived, but alas, the photos did not.  I am sure they were blurry, and rather unimpressive anyway, considering the quality of phone cameras back in the day :)

Future Hikes on Oahu -

1. Diamond Head (Hiked 7/27/2013 & 2/24/14)
2. Koko Head
3. Aiea Loop (Hiked 12/31/2013)
4. Tantalus
5. Crouching Lion
6. Makua Cave    (7/4/16 w/Cathy & M P, Q, Ryker & Tay)
7. Mount Ka'ala

On Top of the World

 

I love the feeling at the top.  With my world brought into focus on a tight spot of land, everything else falls away, step by step.  I am focused.  I am in one place.  I am not scattered.   I am whole.  

 The sun, the wind and the rain fall on me unfiltered by the world.  I am closer to God, the source of it all.  The light is pure, and my skin tingles with the warmth.  The clouds float by and I could reach out and feel their cool dampness.  The wind brings with it bird song, and the voice of Heaven. And when it rains, it is wonderful, the best. I am clean, my soul is refreshed.  New energy lovingly bestowed from above.

The world looks so different from the top of a mountain.  The worries of everyday life have shrunk out of sight.  The only details that remain are the beauty of the land, and anything I've brought along.  The world below is vast and beautiful.  The how and why of minute details are irrelevant.  The world is orderly.  The plan is evident.  It teaches me to trust.  

 

It's worth it, the effort of the climb.  Each step, each moment of the struggle, is worth the reward.  


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(These photos are from our hike to Wiliwilinui Ridge on Monday, 5/27/2013.  We had a group of 7 - The Putegnats, Michael, RJ, Q and I.  It was an awesome hike of around 5-6 miles, with an elevation change of around 1,700 ft from base to summit.  We started about 10am, had lunch at the top, and finished about 2pm.  And then it rained, and it was perfect!)

From the Mountain to the Sea

 

On Thursday Quincie and I ran away for the afternoon.  We found this awesome beach, and had it pretty much to ourselves. A few people came and went, but just look at all that  gorgeous, empty sand!.  The only footprints were from our feet.

Quinice found all kinds of tiny shells, sea glass and other beautiful things.  Her back got a little sunburned from spending most of the time like she is in the photo above.

The waves were fierce!  Standing in the shore break letting wave after wave slam into me was awesome!  There is something magnificent about the power of the ocean.  I love it!

Sometimes I crave the way it feels to have my feet in the wet sand.

The mountains come right up to the beach.  There were incredible views in all directions.  That mountain was calling our name, so on Saturday we came back and hiked it.  It is Kealia Trail, and the trail head is at the 3rd gate of Dillingham Airfield in Waialua. You can see the airfield in some of the photos.  They do skydiving, gliders, and small airplanes.  We saw several gliders and planes in the air as we hiked. 

We saw a bird eating these berries.  I am pretty sure it was a female pheasant.  Later we heard it's call.  I had no idea there were pheasant on Oahu. I tried to snap some pics, but it quickly went into the foliage.

There were a LOT of rocks on this trail, from GIANT to pebbles and everything in between.

It was so lush and green!  There were vines everywhere!  Truly hiking in the jungle.

You could see the ocean pretty much every step of the way.  We had to keep reminding ourselves to keep walking and not just top and stare at the beauty that was before us.

Q on top of one of the larger rocks.

Lots of lava rock to climb over at one of the many switchback turns.

Oh, the upness!!!  It went up and up and up, with so many switchbacks!

On the way down we sat under that giant rock and had our snack.  It actually got a little cold and Quincie was shivering.

We made it to the top right at an hour.  We did a LOT of lolly gagging.  We were trying to get a good pic of us and the awesome view behind us.  Where are the other hikers when you need them?

If you look closely, you can see the trail below.  Did I mention there were a lot of switchbacks?

That is the beach we were at on Thursday.  Looks like the waves are still fierce.  Pretty awesome view!

Yes, moss on a rock.  I wish I had brought my macro lens so I could have an even closer view of the stuff.

We are not exactly sure what this is - some sort of shrimp farm, or aquaculture farm.

Look at all that green farmland.

Yes, more moss on a rock.

I love hiking and exploring this amazing world we live in!  I'm so grateful to have shared this adventure with Quincie.  She's the best!   I want to see everything beautiful. I don't want to miss a thing.