Kuilau Ridge Trail - Walk There Again

I think it would be safe to say that our Kuilau Ridge Trail walk was the most anticipated and most stress-inducing (prior to the walk) during our trip to the island of Kauai.  Since we discovered this trail several years ago, it has been a favorite.  The walk is not too terribly difficult, there are neat things to hear and see on the trail, and the scenic views are... well look at the picture!

And, in case you are wondering, I do not use filters.  And these are accurate color representations.

The stress had more to do with a fear that Tammy might not be able to walk this trail successfully at this point in her recovery.  The trail can be very muddy - and our last trip on the trail was extremely wet, so we know how bad it can get. For those who haven't dealt with the recovery process for Achilles reattachment surgery, uneven and slippery surfaces can be extremely challenging, even if the rest of the walk isn't particularly difficult.

So we had to ask ourselves - how bad would we feel if we couldn't handle the walk?

After acknowledging the fear and worry, we put on the hiking shoes and got a picture of the repaired foot - all adorned to take a walk - at the head of the trail.  And, after some initial mud (nothing too serious), things dried out.  In fact, this might be close to the best trail conditions we've EVER had on this trail.

Thank you for the gift Kauai.  We hope we honor you with good stories and wonderful pictures of the gift that was a successful walk there again!

One of the attractions for us on this walk are the variety of mature trees along the trail.  As a matter of fact, these trees are among the kindest on the island.  Anyone who has walked in a wood has probably felt something about it.  Some woods seem foreboding, making you hesitate before you decide to enter.  Others seem wilder than others, which can be thrilling or frightening depending on the kind of wild.  

These trees seem to have decided that they will accept those who walk under their boughs with Aloha.  Perhaps there was a time they were less than thrilled with human intrusion.  Now, it's almost as if they want us to come discover beauty - and it excites them to share it.

There was one point where it seemed as if the trees created a gateway, where the shade was dense, as if we were in a cave or a great hall.  But, the doors were cracked open so we could see the light behind them.  And in that light was a procession of trees along the trail, providing us with an honor guard.

If the picture you see to the left doesn't give you that impression, I encourage you to click on the image to see a larger version.  In fact, you can click on any of the images to see them better.  The trees made it clear that they were pleased that we wanted to share their story with you.

I will admit that not every person we met on the trail was as enthralled with the trees as we were.  Some were more interested in their conversations and others were simply set on getting from "here" to "there."  Yet others were intent on the grand views that we'll share with you later.  But, they were missing out on other wonders that were closer to hand.

I've said it before, but we miss so much when we don't take the time to really explore.  You can't see if you don't look.  And sometimes the direction you should look is up.

The Mighty Oaks on our farm know how to paint our Iowa skies.  The trees in these woods are masters at their sky-painting artistry as well.  In this particular section of woods, the trees seemed to have communicated well with each other as to which tree occupied what space.  There was often just enough space in between the branches of the canopy that individual trees came close - but typically did not touch.

And, of course, we were happy to explore the different textures and growth habits of trees that are unlike those in Iowa.  Sometimes, the trees were so thrilled to get the attention they seemed to frame pictures for me as I walked the trail.  You could sense the anticipation.

"Will they see it?"  

"Have we made it hard for the humans to recognize this?"

"Shhhhh!  Here they come!  Here they come!"

I'm sure we missed several of their little surprises and they might have been disappointed more times than I realized.  Yet, you could feel a little thrill each time you looked at the right place and the right time.  And as we walked further, you could almost hear them.

"They SAW it!  They LIKED it!  YAY!"

We noticed what we think are Hapu‘u (Hawaiian Tree Fern) as we walked the trail, with more of them as we got closer to the top of the ridge.  These plants seemed to top out at about 20 feet tall and provided an umbrella of leaves that were quite inviting.  As we walked under one of them, I couldn't help but look up and take a picture of the patterns and texture the leaves made.

The tree fern sighed happily because it has spent years arranging each small leaf on every stem JUST SO.  It's always nice to have your hard work recognized by others.

There is a tree that we both look forward to seeing on the trail.  We call it the "Party Tree."  It's not the grandest tree in the forest, nor is it the biggest.  But, it provides shade at the top of the trail in an area where the sun beats down on the path.  And, we used it as a marker to tell us that we can celebrate success in walking the Kuilau Ridge Trail.

The first time we met this particular tree, it provided a pose that was irresistible.  I was able to capture it on film and that photo now resides on our bedroom wall.  It is one of those pictures that makes you feel you could transport yourself onto the path if you could just manage to step into the picture somehow.  

The Party Tree has grown and we're happy to see that.  We made sure to greet it properly and let it know that we are pleased for its healthy and good fortune.  

I wonder if it hears us talk about it when we look at its picture?  Is there a psychic connection that makes that picture seem more real than others?  And if so... is it possible it knows we think about it?  

Maybe we should go back and ask. 

At one point I noticed a bat-like creature fly over my head and I tracked it until it seemed to land on a tree.  I couldn't see it from where I was standing, so I simply pointed the camera where I had seen it last and took a picture.  That picture is shown above.  

I really didn't expect that I'd caught the critter.  But, I did.  Here it is - can you see it now?

This large moth is called a Black Witch Moth and it was introduced to Kauai (and the other Hawaiian Islands).  And yes, even in the picture above it is difficult to see because it blends in pretty well with the trunk of the tree.  While this creature is not native to the islands, I have read that it has a spot in Hawaiian culture as the embodiment of the spirit of a loved one who has passed that wishes to communicate their "goodbyes."

Apparently these moths can have a wingspan of nine inches, which does not surprise me after having one fly by.  No wonder I, and many others, think they've seen a bat instead of a moth.

The valley to the west of Kuilau Ridge was a rich mixture of greens that showed up better when a cloud or two would float by and obstruct the sun for a while on some hills, while leaving others completely sun-drenched.  This is part of the attraction for this particular walk - we get to be treated to beautiful overlooks frequently.

Of course, most people just want to get right to the big show.

And that would be a look at Wai`ale`ale, the mountain and crater of the extinct volcano - and one of the wettest places on earth.  According to data from the Western Regional Climate Center, their recording station measured an average of 373 inches of rain yearly from 1949 to 2008.  

So, it should not be a surprise if Wai`ale`ale made sure to cover itself with some clouds while we took this walk. 

As has been the case with each of our walks since Tammy's Achilles surgery, we have relied on her to determine the point at which we were to turn back.  We decided that we had gone far enough once we reached the overlook that allowed us to take the first picture on this blog.  There was still a little trail left before the Kuilau Ridge Trail gives way to Moalepe.  But, Tammy has been very good at figuring out when it is time to turn around so there is enough energy to successfully return to the starting point.

And, as we were approaching the last little bit on the trail, we were greeted with an unexpected sight!

Apparently, our pleasure at being on this trail in these friendly woods was noticed and we were rewarded with an extremely rare appearance.  Do you see it?  

I'll first refer you to this blog post from a few years ago when we went to Meet the Ents.

Look carefully and you'll see the face of the Ent, a shepherd for this forest, showing his face amidst the moss.

Show your delight in your visit and you, too, might get to meet an Ent.