Long time no post! I think almost a month. AppleCare had my macbook because a few of the keys weren’t working. They quoted me 5-10 days and it was four weeks… so here we are! I’m going to catch up in no particular order.

Today I hiked Hawaii Loa Ridge Hike, it was five miles and 1600ft elevation. 1000ft of the elevation was the last half mile or so. I don’t have any photos from the top, because, well, you can see we were socked in by clouds. (my friend Jess took a couple you’ll see at the end)

The start is inside a gated community with giant homes. You get a pass from a gate guard using a military ID or Hawaii license and head all the way to the end of the community, which is already at a good elevation. The beginning takes you through these beautifully wooded forest and was mostly dry dirt.

Eventually you get high enough into a clear you can look back toward Waikiki. I accidentally grabbed a shot of a rainbow! Only in HI. That’s diamondhead off in the distance.

More looking backwards, koko crater to the left.

More peak-a-boo views of Waikiki

We hit what felt like miles of stairs. These are kinda stairs; they’re also meant to prevent erosion.

I almost gave up a couple times, but it turns out we were REALLY close. I started to get really hot and not quite woozy- but I could tell I was low on energy. So I ate a bar and drank and let myself cool down before I carried forward. They went to the top without me, then one came back and got me once they realized how close we were.

We hit the top, but, much to my disappointment, we didn’t get to see much. We made our way back down and I was a little more in the mood to take pictures.

The Ohia Lehua trees are blooming and there’s a Hawaiian legend that says if you pick one it’ll immediately start to rain. We didn’t attempt fate.

This hike definitely tested my limits mentally, technically, and physically. I’m glad I did it and am very proud of myself. I’m disappointed there was no view at the top, though I’m not sure I’d do this again.

Despite some fleeting clear moments, this is what was mostly at the top waiting for us. Hooray!

Honestly, clouds are nice because it makes for a kinda cool mist at the top. It also protects from beating sun and overheating. We got started a little after 7am and I am not sure I would’ve done as well any later. Also, what else are you going to do in Hawaii on a cloudy day? It basically eliminates any beach activities. Just a bummer to not see the sights.

So proud of myself for doing this when, a year ago, I was just getting hiking again.