Hike 26: Koko Crater and Rim follow through

(Click on pics for better perspective)

Jenni begins the first of 1048 sleepers up to the top--1200 feet elevation to gain in a short distance. I'll be waiting in the car, Sweetheart.

Steep and getting steeper

Good thing you can't smell us, especially the one with the stylish hat

Tuesday 7th

A pretty exciting morning, we’d say, as we headed into Shavuot. We mentioned last week that we turned around because of the danger we faced as we approached the steep arch on Koko Head. Today’s hike was from the other side of the crater so we regained a little credence. It was an extreme exercise workout as we climbed 1,048 railway sleepers to reach the top of the mountain or crater, after crossing a ravine at the halfway mark. What a sweat it was, climbing a trail that had been established as a tram system by the military, during the war. Our clothes attest to this should you view the pictures.

Heading down along the rim--a lot of ocean on the side

The real excitement came as we continued along the narrow ridges of the rim after reaching the peak. It’s hard to describe the 'elevated' feeling of standing alone on a narrow precipice, surrounded by the ocean and other daunting mountains, looking down into the valleys of greenery.

Editor not showing usual confidence as ravine below is intimidating

Adrenaline pumping a little more than usual. An incredible high for a little guy (Click on pics for better perspective)

Many young and ‘youngish’ people use this climb as a ‘rites passage’, if you will. However, very few if any go on to the rim, which is where the real hiking and excitement occurs. The scarcity of people on the trails suits us except when it doesn’t. We had the distinction, if it may be termed as such, of being the oldest on this busy climb. It seems that it is a sign of the times and is likely to continue. Our editor is known to mention from time to time that ‘we are not getting any younger’. Sometimes she has a firmer grip on reality than we do. Sometimes she can be quite harsh.

Coming up on crater rim--what a day!

Jenni with some of our new contemporaries

We spent Shavuot at Chabad of Oahu. Besides learning meaningful aspects of life through Torah, we also caught a glimpse of the culture of some of the locals at shul. We will expound of the experience later. However, we close with this observation. When we left shul on the first day, we half expected to see a ‘parking space’ for surfboards outside as a few of the members looked as if they had stepped into shul from the beach. We could be wrong though, they may have been on the way to surf, but stopped in for a quick prayer before catching the wave.

Editor, photographer and 'plenty gutsy'

Heading for narrow bridge & loving it

Last look from near the top

Cheers,

Jenni and her 'Koko Head'