Big Island High Adventure Photoblog
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 01:19PM 
This is where the adventure started, Waipio Valley Lookout.
From the lookout we began a mile long 1000 foot drop into the valley along a 4-wheel drive road. This is Alec making his way down. Our quads were burning by the time we got to the bottom of this steep hill!
We then walked along the beach until we reached this valley river.
There we took off our hiking boots and put on our tabis. Sitting in the front here is Bishop McMillan, our leader. All together, there were nine scouts and five adults who made the trip.
After a quick lunch and a bodysurfing break, it was time for the first major challenge of the hike: climbing the switchback trail up this mountain-- from the beach it's 1200 feet to the top!
I took this picture about halfway up the zig-zag trail. Waipio Valley looked so beautiful from up here. At this point, however, I could barely breathe, my heart was racing and pounding out of my chest, and my legs were dead tired to the point I could barely walk already. I'm thinking to myself, "What the heck did I get myself into?"
Somehow we all made it to the top. We then trudged our way along the Muliwai Trail another mile or so until stopping to set up camp for the night among the ironwoods. This is Kyle and his son, Ammon's tent.
Once the tents are set up, the next order of business is, of course, FOOD! Jaren, Ammon and Malakai are boiling water for their dehydrated Mountain House dinners.
Ikaika, Kyle, Jaren, Malakai and Ammon (Number10 in the back there is Dylan).
The next morning we continued backpacking the Muliwai Trail. It would be about another seven miles up and down twelve gulches to get to our destination: Waimanu Valley.
Self portrait taken along the way. Can you see the pain and suffering in my face? At this point, I am about an hour behind my group and seriously contemplating the possibilities and consequences of getting an emergency helicopter to pick me up.
About two miles before Waimanu Valley, there's a small hunter shelter. It's here that we ate lunch and rested. That's Nephi with the broom and Kyle in the front.
You know you're on the final stretch of the Muliwai Trail when you start the steep descent into Waimanu Valley with an awesome view of Waiilikahi Falls off in the distance.
We set up camp in the valley just a few yards away from the pounding surf with a background view that the tourists pay the helicopter tours hundreds of dollars to behold from the sky!
Rice cookers? Who needs rice cookers?
Ammon, Dylan and Ikaika.
Nephi, Kepa, Ioane and Aukai.
Bishop and Bryce.
Alec and Dylan.
So after two nights in Waimanu Valley, it was time to hit the Muliwai Trail and reverse the trek back to Waipio Lookout. Here's a pic of Dylan, Malakai and me about a half mile into the return hike.
Taking a breather.
Throughout the week we depended on moutain streams for water. The water needed to be filtered and/or treated with purification tablets in order to be safe to drink. Here's Kepa filling his bottle right at the source!
Muliwai Trail: done. 18 miles there and back. Now just one more night of camping, followed by a final 2 mile morning hike up the road back to the lookout, where we started, and it'll all be over.
One final picture taken at the end of our journey.