hiking groups

[asly]

Are there any casually organized day hiking groups that any of the punawebbers are active in?

[DoryGray]

I would like to start one.

[asly]

Hi Dory,

Glad to hear of your interest, I'm sure there's many folks who'd like to be involved.

I worked as a director of an outdoor program for women and girls and used to organize hikes. I would get many emails, letters and phone calls from women who wanted to just get out in nature and explore, nothing too strenuous, mostly dayhiking, or an occassional over night back pack or sea kayak trip - it was cool. Scheduling became the biggest problem. We just ended up doing a once or twice a month hike, trying to take everyone's schedule into consideration, we ended up with - this was the place, this was the time, and everyone who was involved eventually either adjusted their schedules to accomodate, couldn't make it each and every time, or dropped out. It worked out pretty good, we usually had at least 4, sometimes only 2, but never more than 10 which can be too cumbersome on the trails anyway.

Our organization also offered wilderness first aid trainings through NOLS - WMI and for even day hiking this was critical to have. I can see this being especially important in HI where trails tend to be steep and slippery, any possibly emergency medical response can be slow or limited in the back country.

In starting a group, it's always good to have someone familiar with the area to begin with. Even though it was great to have only gals going, it would also be nice to do co-ed too.

What a great way to stay in shape!

Please keep me posted if you do decide to start a group. I am only going to be on the island part-time, but would certainly like to be involved.

Best, Ann

[Kelena]

The Sierra Club, Hawaii, hosts hikes. They have one that I really, really want to go on: to Green Sand Beach http://www.hi.sierraclub.org/Hawaii/outings.html

[oink]

When I finally move there I will be interested. I have done a few Big Island hikes myself, including Green Sand Beach. I love to hike, and will, as long as my knee will let me. I would love to do a four day hike to Mauna Loa cabin from Mauna Loa Rd. I've done the day hike from Mauna Loa Observatory to the top and I want to do that one again, and again, etc. My problem is a bad back (and knee) which limits the pack weight I can carry. I'm thinking of researching one of those packs that trail behind on a bicycle wheel.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[Kelena]

Wow, Oink. That's great. Can you tell us more about these hikes? 1) Green Sands -- were you concerned about parking? Any problem. 2) Where is Mauna Loa cabin?? 3) You hiked to 11,000 feet??? The most I have ever hiked to is 10,0000.

[Carey]

Ann, it is also a great idea to check the county Recreation program guides. Hawaiian Beaches is having a Shipman Beach Walk next month & Keaau Shipman Gym is a part of the Walk for Life. TO: anyone in Pahoa, see if Tyler can ever update his program guide. Link:
http://www.hawaii-county.com/parks/recreation.htm

Green Sand beach has a few trailheads, the main worry with parking is if you leave tempting items in your car... kids are hanging out having, and temptation can get to some of them... Although rare, doing this hike in a downpour is totally not fun (driving rain plus the natural windy-ness there) but it is stunning from either of the main trails to it.

Glen, the get to the ML cabin access road go on the turnoff to Mauna Loa Observatory (known to all who have seen "The Inconvenient Truth" as the place where the CO2 data comes from). - Kinda easy to find hiking spots here at 10,000 - 13,000 feet, as there are roads to many trail heads that start at these elevations.

There are many groups working to re-establish the traditional around the island trails, many parts of which are being worked on and improved, and many landowners are agreeing to the importance of re-establishing this unifying trail.

[asly]

Carey, thank you for the info! Also, thank you Glen for reminding me to renew my membership with Sierra Club, have procrastinated a bit on that. I will check in with the county regarding their hikes too. Wow, not sure how long I could hike for at elevations of 10,000+ but willing to give it a go.

[oink]

Green Sands: I was concerned about parking. I elected to park at the house or whatever it is and pay the 5 bucks to have the car watched and walk a bit more. It kinda felt like extortion but probably worth it. The weather was a bit hot but windy. The path(s) are easy enough. Some parts would probably be slippery if wet. I would go very early and take a lunch and possibly a small bottle of wine and take your time. It's a really nice beach. If the wine bottle is very big the walk back could seem very long. The trash washed up on the rocks along the way will disgust you.

Mauna Loa Cabin is at over 13,000' near the top of Mauna Loa accross the caldera (North pit) from the summit (13,679'). It can be reached by trail from the top of Mauna Loa Rd (6,662'), which is a VNP road accessed from near Volcano. About 19 miles by that route, I think. It can also be reached in about a 6 mile by trail from the observatory. I really didn't have too much trouble with the altitude especially being a flatlander. I pushed fairly hard in bursts but took extremely frequent very small breaks. You start out at about 11,000' from the observatory. Start very early. Star watching from the observatory road is also worthwhile. Your vision doesn't get messed up by the traffic you have on Mauna Kea.

Here is somebody's Utube that isn't too bad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okFXiMxRWc8

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[Liz]

We've never had problems with parking our car at Green Sand - used to park near the house, but now we park nearer the boat launch area. Never ever leave anything valuable in the car.

Bring plenty of water for the hike out - & back. There is absolutely no shade and it is really windy. Bring & wear sunscreen!

Yes, as Oink said, there is a lot of trash washed ashore along that coastline - not at the beach, but along the way. (Now there's a place that could use a beach clean-up day.) And it doesn't really matter which of the many trails you take; they all end up at Green Sand or just above it, in which case you can opt to slide down the huge dune. We go round to the side though, and hike down the rocky trail.

Well worth a day trip, as long as you're prepared.



aloha, Liz

"The best things in life aren't things."