Mia invited Bill, Chris, Cisco, Ed, Liezl, Shirley, Suzie and myself to celebrate her birthday bash on the Garden Isle. We all flew in and collected what we needed at the big box and little box stores before heading into the valley to start our hike.

City & County

The guys checking out the flooded and rutted road that had just turned another jeep away. We got this!

Jeep Road

But first, we had to stuff somebody back in the jeep as she failed to heed the warning of keeping your hands and feet in the vehicle at all times. Photo by Mia Garrison.

Virgin Jeep Driver

Ed taking the wheel despite having an experienced 4×4 driver sitting in the back. He did good.

Jeep Road

Bill fording the somewhat swollen stream crossing. Photo by Mia Garrison.

Roadside Assistance

Ed noticed that he had a leaking tire, luckily Bill had come prepared with a valve core tool and compressor. Boy Scout!

Weir

Thankfully the Jeeps had saved our feet over three miles of wear and tear.

Trailhead

Getting our feet wet.

Trail

The start of our rock hopping adventure. Photo by Bill Yogi.

Whack-A-Hiker

It’s harder than you think to synchronize four girls alternately going up and down. Photo by Ed Baptista.

Human skipping

Scampering up a boulder while trying not to fall back in the water. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Wailua River

Walking on the riverbank as we followed the indistinct trail upstream.

Trail

Approaching the first waterfall that were formed by the convergence of three streams. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Guardian Falls

Silky shot. Photo by Ed Baptista.

Guardian Falls

Bill took the plunge. Repeatedly. Some guys are just all wet.

Guardian Falls

After all the splashing was said and done, we detoured to the side falls.

Guardian Falls

Group photo by Bill Yogi.

Trail

We contoured around the main falls to continue our rock hopping up the stream.

Directionally Challenged

So let’s see, the front goes which way and the back goes where?

Trail

Climbing up the side of the gorge as waterfalls “expressed” themselves through the mountain flanks. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Trail

Looking at one of several multiple tiered waterfalls. A rapeller’s wet dream.

Trail

Approaching the second set of waterfalls on the trail. Photo by Ed Baptista.

Trail

Another inviting pool. No cannonballs this time. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Celebrations

Mia trying to repeatedly blow out her birthday candles. Bill and Shirley celebrating their one year anniversary. Crown shots.

Trail

Chris and I climbed up to the upper falls, where we found out that going down was harder than coming up.

Trail

Dropping down into the canyon as we were within a helicopter throw from the weeping walls.

Weeping Wall

Approaching the inner sanctum. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Weeping Wall

Looking up at the lush and verdant, towering walls soaring thousands of feet up to one of the wettest spots on Earth. Photo by Bill Yogi.

Crumbly Wall

My attempts to circle the falls ended prematurely due to the rotting and crumbly ground that constantly gave way. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Weeping Wall

Bill flew his drone to get our group shot and joined the other air traffic that was buzzing the canyon on a regular basis. Sure beats yelling group photo at the top of my lungs.

Blue Hole

It was more like the Gray Hole today. Photo by Shirley.

Trail

Some of us started to make our way back while the rest continued with their photo shoots.

Trail

Following instructions as we made our way back. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Trail

Cisco dropping back down to the second set of waterfalls.

Trail

Climbing down the gorge.

Jungle Gym

Threading our way through a huge blowdown that was blocking the trail.

Guardian Falls

Contouring our way down the first set of waterfalls.

Wailua River

Making our way downstream Kauai’s longest and largest river.

Mud Pit

Leaving no trace and hopefully no shoes as well.

All pau

Rock hopping our way back to our Jeeps. I had my fill of such activity for the week. Another great hike with fun company in the books. Post hike meal at Mariachi’s Mexican Cuisine where their food was better than their math.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.