Hike 23: Koko Head, not crater

Hello, hello,

Friday

It looks like we are splitting hairs in the title. The crater hike, which we were intending to undertake,
involves walking up 1100 stairs, reputed to be quite tough. However, because of confusing instructions in
our guidebook, we ended up doing part of the ‘head’ trail, a very different experience. Although the
pictures don’t capture the danger, nevertheless we experienced it. Showing wisdom beyond our maturity
(notice we did not mention years although we were thinking 20-25 for maturity), we reached the arch and
turned back after feeling the rain, wind and thinking ‘slippery slopes’, duh! More about this later; we are
still shaking a little.

The gradient of the arch--no chains, only rain and wind for support

.

Jenni eyeing our nemesis after returning from arch

We have always loved hiking in the Western United States. Out here in Hawaii, we consider it just a
little further west than the rest. So for the record, we now include it in that beautiful territory.
If you exclaim: ‘So what’, we would understand—sometimes our mind comes up with apparently strange concepts.
Fortunately, our editor censors those aspects most of the time.

Talking of the lovely Jenni, she makes the arrangements including hikes, food and accommodation.
When we find ourselves sleeping in a condo, then a tent or hut, a motel, hotel, backseat of the car,
an apartment, flat or house; we know whom to look at with the hostile eye if our back aches in
the morning. Currently, we are staying in the ‘bed-and-breakfast’ without the breakfast. We hope
our editor does not ‘slip’ and we find ourselves in a bed-and-breakfast with only the breakfast.
We do enjoy the variety very much. We almost fear for the time of being corralled in one place.
Fortunately, we try not to think too much about that.

This was the easy part but quite exciting being on the tuff

We begin the workday in Hawaii between 4am and 4:30 these days—once or twice even earlier, sometimes a
little later. We don’t know whether we should be embarrassed or pleased. Anyway, at about five am, the
rain and lightning arrived on Friday. It put a damper on our outside activities. However, we hit the
trail in the afternoon with much enthusiasm.

Approaching the bridge/arch, oy vey!

Something about the hike reminded us of the new South Africa. Previously, the arch you see in the picture
had chains for a person to hold during the dangerous crossing. When we arrived, they were gone. This, we thought,
is much like our former homeland. The new industries are big in the recycling business—they recycle the copper
wiring from the active telephone cables, they steal the steel, too. We got the feeling some South African
secondary miners preceded us on the trail.

It always come down to that apple, doesn't it, Chava?

A little dejected--not as good as you thought, hmm!

Our calculation of the gradient was close to 60 degrees in places. The wind was rising and the rain was
beginning, so after experiencing some scary moments, we turned around and did some thinking. We completed
another loop, returning to our nemesis, the arch, and then played on the rocks along the cliffs. We wondered
about a quote we often hear from Harold Shapiro: Winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win. In being,
perhaps over generous to ourselves, we’ll call it a draw.

Safe, at least, else who would cook

Happy again--Shabbos in a few hours

Cheers,

Jenni and Jeffrey