The Crack & Cave

Waking up with pouring rain pretty much all night, wondering if Sunday hike is going to happen. Since the advance team of Sparky, Rexplorer, and Capt. Charlie has "checked out" the approach to the Crack, and it being Chops' chosen hike, we feel the show must go on. Setting the meeting at 6:30 a.m. is roundly applauded by those who cherish the extra few minutes of sleep. We drive to the big taotaomona tree in the rain. By the time we arrive, the rain has stopped. We are happy to see Brian rejoin us for this important hike. 

Pre-hike photo guarantees that everyone is accounted for. This hike is particularly prone to "losing" one or two hikers at the end. it is on this trail that RedEye earns his name. In the front: Brian, CB, Thor, Cutie. In the back: CC, Ewok, Sparky, Chops, RedEye, Waldo. 

Although there are several ways we can start the hike, we decide to go in the very original entrance on the Unai Laggua side. We figure there is only one direction that leads to the entrance of the Crack, it is only a matter of pushing our way through the trees and brushes and debris before we reach the more open space just below the cliff. Although blue and white ribbons are used to mark the "trail" on the previous day, only one white ribbon is sighted. All the rest are completely hidden in the jungle. No matter, here Chops and company maintain a cheery attitude pushing through the mess.

A surprise find in the jungle. This upside down shell partially buried in the ground. It is a second one found in this old battleground. Another full foot-and-half shell is discovered the day before at another location. Although we mark that one with a blue ribbon, we are not able to find it as we are not on the same trail today.

A brief stop to determine our location relative to the wire fence that leads to the Crack entrance. From here some climb straight up, some continue toward the fence.

Eventually everyone arrives at the entrance, some already continue on through. Here Waldo, Sparky, Ewok and CB wait as Chops climbs up into the narrow space.

A farewell pose at the entrance, hoping Chops will remember this hike fondly.

Very happy Cutie and RedEye arriving at the Crack. 

Waldo weaving his way through the Crack.

Thor approaching the hanging boulder, barely clearing its base. After the Crack, five of us climb up the steep trail to the cave on the upper trail. The rest of the team climb up part way and wait.

The climb to the cave is steep and rocky. We are careful not to dislodge any loose rocks. It is a good cardio workout. At the entrance of the cave the display items on the rock are still there, although unfortunately some items have been taken earlier by unscrupulous visitors. After a brief rest, we decide to join the others.

The five cavers scramble downhill to join the waiting crew. Since there is not a big enough space to spread out the snacks, everyone passes bags of goodies around. It is a fun time.

Pretty mushrooms on the trail.

Making our way back down the hill. This time we take a different route from the earlier trek, going straight down hill from mid trail, going through some thick but passable field toward the road. We exit from a different trail to the main road.

RedEye is happy and relieved to arrive at the exit. 

We take almost three and half hours to cover only 1.33 miles of ground. Instead of coming back out from the entrance on Unai Laggua, we exit on Pale Arnold Road. The route map shows that we have made a big circle.

One injury occurs on the trail. Thor trips and falls, probably on the vines, and earns a big goose-egg size bump on her right shin, a bloody cut on her left knee, and another bloody cut on her left elbow. No tears...

This has been a good hike to discover the condition of the trail. It is a little bit challenging, but no one is lost on the trail, and everyone is able to enjoy this favorite hike.