Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:38:47 -1000 From: Patrick Rorie (prorie@k12.hi.us> Subject: Kaaawa Valley Campout
A group of us ventured into magnificent Kaaawa Valley on the windward side of Oahu this past weekend as an introduction to backpacking. Dayle and Georgina have already provided nice photos/narratives of the event so I'll just touch on a few topics.
First of all, those of you who were invited to the campout but decided not to attend missed out. The former stomping groud of GODZILLA, a section of JURASSIC PARK, the home of MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, there is a reason why movies have been filmed in Kaaawa Valley - it is a very beautiful place. The imposing flanks/sheer cliffs of the steep east wall below Pu'u Kanehoalani are breath-taking. Best of all, dorsal fin shaped Pu'u Ohulehule towers high above the deepest part of the valley.
On the final night of our get-together, I spoke seriously about the topic of backpacking and gave a warning to the women of what can happen when they become involved in the sport - loss of femininity.
I told them a story (prophecy?) of a woman I knew (know?). A former model at 6 foot and 160 pounds, she was a big girl, no doubt, but not fat. The wahine had lots of lovely flowing red hair and a pretty face but a shocking metamorphosis occurred as she went on more and more backpacking trips. First, she stopped painting her toe nails. Later, the woman no longer shaved her legs or underarms. When I last saw her she kicked the winning goal for the U.S. Women's soccar team then stripped off her shirt, her bulging muscles almost as big as her breasts! Her journey to the stature of G.I. Jane now complete!
Apprentice Georgina Oka blurted out "Just because I don't paint my toe nails doesn't make me any less feminine!".
I leaned back and thought to myself "Watch out for that one. Bossy! She is well on her way to the manly side!". :-)
In the last photo of Dayle's "Backpacking outing--Kaaawa Valley" gallery he mentions a cable section. Charlotte installed the cable back in October of '98 and I did not climb beyond it. She will return to the southeast ridge of Ohulehule soon to remove the cable so that no one (esp. tourists) will ascend the mountain from that direction.
Furthermore, Jim Pushaw comments "So a word of warning for any of you 'nut cases' (Dayle's words) that will be attempting a climb up that SE ridge: the 'orange cord/black cable combo' and the 'belt shaped rope' that was higher up are NO MORE! They're gone!"
Also, Stuart Balls writes "In its present condition the trail from the base (of the pyramid) to the summit is unsafe, even for experienced hikers".
Therefore, if any police/fire department personnel are monitoring this list, there is no need to waste your time and tax payer money removing cables that don't (or won't) exist on the southeast ridge.
== Paka