3rd Time is a Charm!

With a determination of Never Give Up, and Never Say Die, five hikers gather at the Bird Island parking lot at 5:30 a.m. for the third attempt to cross the Highway 36 trail from Kalebera to Hidden Beach (Windward Hill Road). Two previous attempts both ended up in the middle of the boonies that gave us clear indication that we were lost. This time we plan to attack from the "destination" backward to Hidden Beach. Five determined souls are ready: Handy, Cutie, Chops, Lee, and Capt. Charlie. We park and hike down Chalan Kalebera, aka Route 36. We passed the Kalebera Cave, then Serena Cave until we reach the Fleming farm, where we turn left onto the trail (which is supposed to also be Windward Road or 318) that hugs the Fleming farm fence. At the end of the fence, we turn right and step over a gate that has fallen down on the ground. We feel confident and happy that our search will soon come to fruition.

Spectacular views of flame trees are all over the island. Here is one that peeks through the jungle of a mango tree, and other tall growths.

Whoa! Never climb up a slope in front of a camera. Here Chops is showing off her skills of ascending a hill. 

Handy and Cutie drop down into the next ravine as we continue to follow the ribbons. So far we are happy that the trail seems familiar and quite easy to follow. The wash-outs are common and we are not concerned. 

A little off-shoot takes us to this lookout point from which we can see the white tent (upper right hand corner) at the Kingfisher Golf Club. The view is great and at the same time reassuring to us that we are heading towards the right direction. 

While we are admiring the view, Cutie decides she is hungry and stops to enjoy a cracker. A wise idea, as we will soon find out the next phase of the hike is more challenging.

We come to a big ravine, deep and dark. Handy volunteers to go down first. Lee follows him. Chops,Cutie, and CC decide to follow another set of ribbons that skirt the rim of the ravine, to see whether that trail will lead us straight over without having to drop down.

Chops leads the way to follow the ribbons. But instead of staying flat, the trail appears to go gently uphill. Eventually, it is clear that this trail will actually take one to the top of the mountain. Chops turns back. Meanwhile Handy is down below calling Cutie and sounding concerned. So we decide to join them.

It's butt-walk time again. Cutie goes first into the unknown.

 

Chops butt-walks in front of a camera! The slope is quite steep with loose rocks and leaves.

We spend some time in the ravine following ribbons and the riverbed. After crossing the riverbed we somehow get turned around. When Lee spots the tree with the bee nest, everyone realizes that we are heading backward, except CC who has a poor sense of direction. After some discussion that confirms that the bee nest is the very same one we had passed by the previous week when we were going to Kalebera. We turn around and walk away from the bees.

Yea! The happy hikers! After passing the "bee sting" area and crossing the hermit crab forest, Handy finds the rope he has left, last week, on the gully slope that goes up to the flat trail. The connection is complete. The taste of success is sweet.

The search for the connection has taken us two hours. We decide that we will not continue to the Hidden Beach. Instead, we will turn back and continue our hike back to Highway 36 and then through Nan Madol so that we will be in the shade. The Nan Madol will be a long winding trail that will take quite a while to complete. Before we turn back, we need to nourish our bodies. A wealth of snacks is spread on the picnic table. Lee is checking out the goodies.

Having stuffed ourselves, we retrace our steps back to Kalebera. This distant rock with a wide mouth is impressive looking. Not sure if it is reachable.

Nan Madol trail. This rock wall is obviously man-built. Although the cave is not very deep and we are not sure the exact purpose of having this wall there. 

The most interesting feature on the Nan Madol trail is this tall wall made of cement bags. Handy has done some research to find out the purpose of having this strange looking wall in the middle of the jungle, and he is now explaining to Lee on how this wall was used for target practice for the CIA training camp. 

Handy pointing out the hardware used for the training camp.

After many twists and turns on the trail, Chops points out this rock that looks like a pig grazing. We are constantly on alert for "funny" looking rocks, trees, and other interesting forms and shapes. 

After a herd of cattle "stampede" down the trail and through the jungle, we find a series of little gift droppings on the trail. We keep our eyes on the trail to avoid disturbing these gifts.

As we approach the exit from the jungle, we can see the roadway, and a group of butterflies. This one stops just long enough and spreads its wings momentarily for this photo. Another group of blueish wings are too quick and maybe too shy.

After reaching back to our cars at the Bird Island parking lot, we find the place buzzing with tourists. We borrow the palapala from the guard, who is counting heads, and ask him to take our group photo.

We are delighted that this hike finally restores our reputation and confidence. A definite Five-Sneakers hike. This hike takes us from 5:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Next week we plan to conquer the Banaderu trail, another trail we failed to find the last time we attempted it.

2nd Attempt to Cross Island

Not to be defeated lying down, we decide to make a second attempt to find the cross island road, Highway 36. Two weeks ago we were blocked by a giant rock wall, after we obviously followed the wrong ribbons. This Sunday we are determined to take the right hand trail at the deep gully, the one we did not take last time. With everyone else unable to join, the four of us: Handy, Cutie, Chops, and Capt. Charlie, gather at the parking lot for our descent down Xterra trail. At 5:30 a.m., the sun is rising even as dark clouds loom overhead, we are prepared to deal with rain and storm in our quest to find the "lost trail" to Highway 36.

Cutie, Handy, Chops, ease cautiously over the narrow strip of trail just above the washed out portion on Xterra Trail. At the base of this trail, we turn left toward Hidden Beach.

View of this open mouthed rock on Hidden Beach. We are just getting ready to turn left to go down  into the valley for the start of the trail.

Of course the easiest way to conquer a slippery slope is to get down and do the traditional butt-walk. The drop-down to the valley is steep with loose rocks and leaves.

A foundation is at the base of the valley, with two drain pipes sticking out. We do not stop to investigate, as we are focused on today's mission.

After climbing over to the other side of the valley, the first portion of the trail is fairly easy, as the ground is flat and well marked. However, the recent rains are speeding the growth of trees and bushes, and we can see that soon the trail may be harder to follow. Handy walks into the thick woods and we have to follow closely.

Suddenly Handy discovers an egg on the ground. We have heard a chicken earlier and not sure if it is the origin of this egg. 

Among the many ribbons of pink, orange, blue, white, and polka dots, we notice this ribbon several times and wonder what it means. The TP is usually followed by a number. Is it Telephone Pole, or Toilet Paper? 

A giant crocodile in the ocean?

We arrive at the large gully, the site of our last misadventure. This time we follow the ribbons on the right side of the gully. Handy comes prepared with a rope for the steep drop into the gully. Chops is the first to try it.

Alas, the rope isn't quite long enough, Chops and Cutie practice their butt-walk. We find ourselves in familiar surroundings in the gully. We are feeling pretty happy that so far we have managed to follow the right trail.

With tree branches growing hither and tither all over the place, this boonie is getting thicker and tougher to deal with. Handy is all smiles, welcoming the challenge. Cutie has been leading the way and spotting the ribbons with her "Shopper's Eye". We encourage her to spot the ribbons with cries of  "75% Off!", and "Buy One and Get One Free!" But as we follow a series of red ribbons deeper and deeper into the boonie, up and down slippery slopes, we are getting the feeling that we must be on the wrong trail again. We know we should be on higher grounds and flat trail toward the fence, but so far we are still deep in the gully with no end in sight. Since we are working on a time limit, we decide to turn around and call it a day. 

Whoa! Sharp-eye Cutie calls out a warning that yonder is a hand grenade. We gingerly make our way to check it out. It looks like a U.S. model, still intact. 

Handy grabs on the tree trunk to keep steady as we turn back on the slope into the gully again.

Butt-walking seems to be the norm today. Chops is at it again to negotiate the slope. We make our way back to the deep gully. On the way, CC gets caught in the bee nest and gets stung three times, two of which through her gloves. With her shrieking, jumping up and down, knocking her head on the tree branch, she provides quite a comic relief for everyone else.

This is a pile of trash in the first valley area. There are lots more trash scattered around. We are dismayed to see that whoever visited this area in the past did not show any respect for the environment.

A dramatic showing by Chops as we wait for her at the end of the hike.

CC's knuckle swells up by the bee sting. 

Chops, Capt. Charlie, Cutie, and Handy prop down on the road at the end of the hike, refusing to move another muscle. But based on the smiles, we must have had a pretty hike. Never a group to give up so easily, we decide to find the trail again next Sunday. This time, we are going to start from the other end.

Despite our failure to find the trail, once again, we know exactly where we have gone astray. Next Sunday we will attack the challenge from a different angle. Watch for confirmation of our plan.

Laderan Tangke Nature Trail

We decide to make another crack at conquering Laderan Tanhke Nature Trail without getting lost, which is still out of our reach after several attempts in the past. With only Handy, Cutie, and Capt. Charlie available to hike, it is fairly easy to organize and begin the hike promptly at 5:50. It is a familiar start at the trail head which is on the way to Radar Hill. At the start of the trail there is sign board. We study the information on the board to confirm that the circular trail is listed as only 1.8 miles. 
Under the canopy of thick growths, we begin the hike into the forest.

This trail is full of ribbons of red, orange, and green, which is the reason why we have become lost so many times. Today, however, we find a new ribbon of blue and white. It stands out very well in the boonie surrounding. We decide to follow this new lead.

This tree wraps its base around the rock, swallowing it whole, slowly.

Handy discovers one of those hiker signs on a fallen tree trunk, and decides to remove it.

Imagine our surprise when we encounter this bright orange marker. We have seen markers on this trail before, but never this bright and new looking. We become a bit excited about seeing not only the blue and white ribbon but also this new sign, a discovery that indicates recent trail renovation work has been done.

Beautiful silhouette of Cutie on top of a ledge overlooking the ocean beyond. We are still walking on pretty flat terrain, and feeling the hike so far has been easy. The forest is delightfully cool and dry, with many singing birds keeping us entertained. We continue to see the orange signs in sequence.

Handy's turn to take a look at the ocean, which shows clearly below the ledge.

One of the hiker signs being slowly covered by the bark.

Impressive rock formations along the trail, some have small caves, and most of them have roots draping down from trees growing on top. As we continue to follow the ribbons and the orange signs, descending toward east, we begin to hear the ocean waves more clearly. Soon we are able to have a peek-a-boo view of Bird Island. Oh no, we fear that we are heading to Bird Island, the wrong way on the trail. We start to make plans of calling for a ride if we did end up there.

But soon we begin to climb, away from the ocean. We feel relieved. We soon find ourselves going up and down these rocky slopes many more times.

A very strange looking tree trunk. 

One of many hiker signs, similar to the one Handy finds on the fallen tree trunk. We want to find out where we can buy them.

Handy standing under a large trunk. This trail has many huge trees that have weathered many storms.

Finally. End of the boonie trail. We are overjoyed. The blue and white ribbons are the winners as trail guides, and the orange markers are definitely a beautiful sight each time we see one. Now we continue on the road back to the beginning.

One unusual encounter on the hike is the swarming of these moths. They begin to appear toward the end of the hike, first up high on the rocky hills, then a large group is on the road way toward the trail head. There are "millions" of them. We have to keep our mouths closed as we forge ahead through clouds of these fluttering flying objects.

Just as we come close to the trail head, we take a very short detour and come upon this monitor lizard. It scampers away quickly, but not before stopping for a moment to give us the eye and a "what for".  It measures a little over 3 feet.

The nice sign at the trail head, indicating that the whole trail measures 1.8 miles. It doesn't specify that a good part of it is up and down rocky slopes.

The loop. There is a blog posted by two hikers that describes the trail as an "easy" hike, and that they hike it in flip flops. It is a little hard to imagine how this trail, though not difficult, can be easily hiked in flip flops, given the terrain of sharp coral rocks up and down steep slopes. We enjoy the two hours and 30 minute hike, and definitely feel an accomplishment of some sort.

It's a Five-Sneaker Hike!