Comments on: Kalalau Questions http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/ Living and hiking on the island of Kauai Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:48:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Vanessa http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-79416 Vanessa Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:55:38 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-79416 My husband and I just did the hike in August (09). It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Full of adventure. We parked our rental car at the trail head and had no problems. We left non valuable items, eg, excess clothes in the trunk. My only recommendation would be not to do the full 11 miles in one day as it is hard work with a heavy pack. Do it in 2 days and you will enjoy it much more. My husband and I just did the hike in August (09). It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Full of adventure. We parked our rental car at the trail head and had no problems. We left non valuable items, eg, excess clothes in the trunk. My only recommendation would be not to do the full 11 miles in one day as it is hard work with a heavy pack. Do it in 2 days and you will enjoy it much more.

]]> By: Mike http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-79317 Mike Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:15:28 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-79317 So true about the valleys and although the cliffs provide the breeze it also brings the hot sun later-in-the-day. I seem to sweat the whole way unless there is some cloud cover. I normally hike with a day pack that has a Camel Back plus two two liter bottles of water. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are out there w/o any water at all. I will be happy to post something next year after I hike it again....can't wait! So true about the valleys and although the cliffs provide the breeze it also brings the hot sun later-in-the-day. I seem to sweat the whole way unless there is some cloud cover. I normally hike with a day pack that has a Camel Back plus two two liter bottles of water. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are out there w/o any water at all.
I will be happy to post something next year after I hike it again….can’t wait!

]]> By: Andy http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-79285 Andy Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:31:05 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-79285 Hi Mike, estimates range from 5000' to 2000' in various sources. I have a GPS elevation graph in http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-trail-map/. It's no less than 2400' (roughly 800m) when you add up all the big hills, and with the little ups and downs, I would say closer to 3000' (roughly 1000m). While that's not considered a lot of elevation gain over 10 miles, what I find the hardest on the uphills is the hot, humid weather. When you're in a valley, it can be very unpleasant and you have to be sure to drink plenty of fluids. When you reach the ocean-facing cliffs, you get the cooling breezes. Hi Mike, estimates range from 5000′ to 2000′ in various sources. I have a GPS elevation graph in http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-trail-map/. It’s no less than 2400′ (roughly 800m) when you add up all the big hills, and with the little ups and downs, I would say closer to 3000′ (roughly 1000m).

While that’s not considered a lot of elevation gain over 10 miles, what I find the hardest on the uphills is the hot, humid weather. When you’re in a valley, it can be very unpleasant and you have to be sure to drink plenty of fluids. When you reach the ocean-facing cliffs, you get the cooling breezes.

]]> By: Mike http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-79283 Mike Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:40:04 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-79283 Just curious, has anyone published the total elevation change you experience over the length of the Kalalau? Not just from sea level to the peak height but the total up and down. Just curious, has anyone published the total elevation change you experience over the length of the Kalalau? Not just from sea level to the peak height but the total up and down.

]]> By: Andy http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-78895 Andy Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:55:08 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-78895 Hi Bob, smart move to call your airline and ask about the stove. Last I heard, though it wasn't recently, was that drained and cleaned stoves were allowed by FAA rules, but it is up to each airline to set their own policy. Also a good idea to mail it, I hope that is still allowed. White gas or kerosene is easy to find on island. I'm sure that every Ace Hardware has it ('Ele'Ele, Lihue, Kapa'a, and Princeville), and Wal-mart may have it too. Hi Bob, smart move to call your airline and ask about the stove. Last I heard, though it wasn’t recently, was that drained and cleaned stoves were allowed by FAA rules, but it is up to each airline to set their own policy. Also a good idea to mail it, I hope that is still
allowed. White gas or kerosene is easy to find on island. I’m sure that every Ace Hardware has it (’Ele’Ele, Lihue, Kapa’a, and Princeville), and Wal-mart may have it too.

]]> By: bob http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-78849 bob Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:47:49 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-78849 Andy, just found out Alaska Air will not allow my Whisper Lite stove on board (checked or carry-on). Rather a new rule..have always denied fuel but now deny stoves as well. So...I'm going to mail my stove to kauai and was wondering where I might purchase white gas on Kauai. I arrive the day before my hike and will have a bit of time to shop...any suggestions???? thanks, bob Andy,
just found out Alaska Air will not allow my Whisper Lite stove on board (checked or carry-on). Rather a new rule..have always denied fuel but now deny stoves as well. So…I’m going to mail my stove to kauai and was wondering where I might purchase white gas on Kauai. I arrive the day before my hike and will have a bit of time to shop…any suggestions????
thanks,
bob

]]> By: Andy http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-78626 Andy Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:18:44 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-78626 Hi Bob, glad you enjoyed reading the blog. I answered your question in a <a target="_new" href="http://great-hikes.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-kalalau/" rel="nofollow">new post</a>. Hi Bob, glad you enjoyed reading the blog. I answered your question in a new post.

]]> By: bob busk http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-78620 bob busk Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:18:25 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-78620 Hi, Great blog...just love reading the different experiences and perspectives...one thing is constant...the overall beauty of Kalalau. I am set to spend five days in Kalalau the first of October. I was wondering...I have heard there is a "library" in the valley....a bunch of paperbacks under a tarp....Does it exist and if so... how do you find it. I love to spend time reading...finding a great spot, soak up the beauty and share it with a book but they are HEAVY and if there are books to borrow I would love to do so. What can you tell me? Aloha and Mahalo bob- Hi,
Great blog…just love reading the different experiences and perspectives…one thing is constant…the overall beauty of Kalalau. I am set to spend five days in Kalalau the first of October. I was wondering…I have heard there is a “library” in the valley….a bunch of paperbacks under a tarp….Does it exist and if so… how do you find it. I love to spend time reading…finding a great spot, soak up the beauty and share it with a book but they are HEAVY and if there are books to borrow I would love to do so. What can you tell me?

Aloha and Mahalo
bob-

]]> By: Mike http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-78080 Mike Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:46:06 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-78080 I stumbled onto your site after doing a Google search on the Kalalau Trail. I have to compliment you on your advise and commentary and you are a very good moderator. So many don't understand this place at all and don't realize the commitment it takes to spend five days hiking this difficult and magnificent trail. I have watch people's YouTube postings and wondered how they got away with it? I hiked it for the first time in 1973 and I have to say it is/was one of my life's hi-lites to this day. Part of that feeling comes from being there in a much simpler time before it was really "discovered!" When I returned home to California after a month in the islands nobody could comprehend the scope,grandeur and beauty of what I described nor the shear physical effort to carry a 40# pack in that heat and humidity over 11(22) miles. You have to remember, in 1973 there was no internet or web pages with peoples stories and photos. I had a crappy little box type camera and I am still amazed at how good the pictures look even today, 36 years later. I go back to North Shore Kauai every other year (next trip July 2010) and hike some portion of the trail between Hanakapia'i and Hanakoa just to get away from the traffic on the first portion. Next year I think I will go as-far-as the top of Red Dirt Hill. I would love to go all the way to the Kalalau Valley but I just can't devote the time for a true visit (3 days total for me) or deal with hauling all the gear form California. I do hope that, some day, the powers-to-be, limit the number of people anywhere on the trail (even Ke'e to Hanakapia'i...i know, I know!) and "kill" the helicopters. This place will never be ADA compliant (no hate mail, my brother is in a wheel chair) so it should be reserved and preserved. There are so many people hiking the first two miles that don't even have a clue. I my opinion, those first two miles are some of the hardest on the whole trail! But there they are, rubber slippas, bathing suits, no hats, NO Water and they want to know "How much farther is it?" and "How far is it to the falls?" My greatest fear is that, some day, the state will put in a paved path to Hanakpia'i and then totally let the rest of the trail erode into the sea. Aloha and Mahalo Mike I stumbled onto your site after doing a Google search on the Kalalau Trail. I have to compliment you on your advise and commentary and you are a very good moderator. So many don’t understand this place at all and don’t realize the commitment it takes to spend five days hiking this difficult and magnificent trail. I have watch people’s YouTube postings and wondered how they got away with it?
I hiked it for the first time in 1973 and I have to say it is/was one of my life’s hi-lites to this day. Part of that feeling comes from being there in a much simpler time before it was really “discovered!”
When I returned home to California after a month in the islands nobody could comprehend the scope,grandeur and beauty of what I described nor the shear physical effort to carry a 40# pack in that heat and humidity over 11(22) miles. You have to remember, in 1973 there was no internet or web pages with peoples stories and photos. I had a crappy little box type camera and I am still amazed at how good the pictures look even today, 36 years later.
I go back to North Shore Kauai every other year (next trip July 2010) and hike some portion of the trail between Hanakapia’i and Hanakoa just to get away from the traffic on the first portion. Next year I think I will go as-far-as the top of Red Dirt Hill. I would love to go all the way to the Kalalau Valley but I just can’t devote the time for a true visit (3 days total for me) or deal with hauling all the gear form California.
I do hope that, some day, the powers-to-be, limit the number of people anywhere on the trail (even Ke’e to Hanakapia’i…i know, I know!) and “kill” the helicopters. This place will never be ADA compliant (no hate mail, my brother is in a wheel chair) so it should be reserved and preserved. There are so many people hiking the first two miles that don’t even have a clue. I my opinion, those first two miles are some of the hardest on the whole trail! But there they are, rubber slippas,
bathing suits, no hats, NO Water and they want to know “How much farther is it?” and “How far is it to the falls?”
My greatest fear is that, some day, the state will put in a paved path to Hanakpia’i and then totally let the rest of the trail erode into the sea.
Aloha and Mahalo
Mike

]]> By: Andy http://great-hikes.com/blog/kalalau-questions/#comment-51712 Andy Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:06:11 +0000 http://great-hikes.com/blog/?p=157#comment-51712 Hi Lisa, Thanks for the great trip report, I am jealous of your wonderful trip. And glad to hear that all the rain didn't keep you from both doing it and from enjoying it. You definitely have the right attitude about the rain and mud, and the right person to guide you. For others without the water pro with them, please do not cross high water. And it must be one of the charms of Kalalau that women hikers notice the "nude young men" at the waterfall and guy hikers like me only notice the nude women there ;-) Thanks as well for sharing the parking and taxi solution with Kayak Kauai and Sue's. Since you know the car is safe, you can leave stuff there, but I still wouldn't risk anything valuable. And sorry about the formatting, that's a problem with the blog software that I haven't solved. Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the great trip report, I am jealous of your wonderful trip. And glad to hear that all the rain didn’t keep you from both doing it and from enjoying it. You definitely have the right attitude about the rain and mud, and the right person to guide you. For others without the water pro with them, please do not cross high water.

And it must be one of the charms of Kalalau that women hikers notice the “nude young men” at the waterfall and guy hikers like me only notice the nude women there ;-)

Thanks as well for sharing the parking and taxi solution with Kayak Kauai and Sue’s. Since you know the car is safe, you can leave stuff there, but I still wouldn’t risk anything valuable.

And sorry about the formatting, that’s a problem with the blog software that I haven’t solved.

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