Kauai Family Trip

Our good friend Chase Lochmiller, whom we met in Antarctica on our Mt. Vinson trip almost three years ago, was getting married on the Hawaiian island of Kauai in late September 2016. Having never been to any Hawaiian island, Kristine & I decided to make this happen with Sawyer and immediately Ken & Dianne Oelberger were on board to come with us. And, from everyone we talked to, Kauai was the least developed, most mountainous, and exotic of all the islands, which sounded right up our alley. Also, our friends from London, Harry & Halla Koppel, whom we met on Mt. Vinson as well, were making the long trip over and so it would be a great opportunity to rekindle our fun friendship we had in Antarctica together. We were so excited to spend this vacation with Sawyer,Ken, and Dianne. Definitely a different kind of vacation for us, but it turned out to be so much fun and memorable. Kauai certainly did not disappoint. We rented a functional beach house in Wainiha on Kauai’s north shore between Hanalei Bay and the Kalalau trailhead. It was a perfect location and was a 5 minute walk to the famous Tunnels Beach, where we went about every day for swimming with Sawyer and snorkeling.

Sawyer en route to Hawaii!

Sawyer en route to Hawaii!

We flew from Denver to LAX and met Ken & Dianne there for the big flight direct to Lihue Airport on Kauai. We rented a van when we arrived and drove the hour+ up to the north shore and our beach house. It was an extremely long day with Sawyer, but we finally made it to the house around 4pm in the hottest part of the day. I think it was because we were all so beat from the travel and very tired and likely because the house had been closed up until an hour or so before we arrived, but we all sort of lost it when we arrived into the house due to the extreme temperature inside the house. I know I for one was thinking how the heck I could stay here, especially sleep at night in this hot of a house with no AC. It was unbearable. Ken and I immediately took off our shirts as did Sawyer to try and cool down. The property manager, however, did show us the portable AC units in a closet we could try and hook up to the windows at least to cool 2 rooms down. So, Ken and I jimmy-rigged one of the units in Sawyer’s room and it worked pretty well really cooling down her room to 70 degrees or colder. We did a less-inspiring engineering installation in the master bedroom where Kristine and I stayed, but it worked pretty well. It did cool down at night and was much more manageable. Ken and Dianne were stronger than us (me) and did well in the 3rd bedroom without an AC unit. Still, though, shirts off for the boys and Sawyer were still a staple for the week. Despite the initial shock of the heat & humidity, we adjusted and had a fantastic week.

Our house's back porch

Our house’s back porch

The backyard

The backyard

Sawyer & I adjusting to life in Hawaii

Sawyer & I adjusting to life in Hawaii

Sawyer on the way to Tunnels Beach with the front of our house behind

Sawyer on the way to Tunnels Beach with the front of our house behind

Walking to Tunnels

Walking to Tunnels

Awesome Tunnels Beach has a reef and is just perfect for swimming and snorkeling in calm waters

Awesome Tunnels Beach has a reef and is just perfect for swimming and snorkeling in calm waters

Sawyer loved it

Sawyer loved it

Ken & Dianne so happy to be back on Kauai after 25 years or so

Ken & Dianne so happy to be back on Kauai after 25 years or so

Sawyer & I at Tunnels

Sawyer & I at Tunnels

It was so much fun & special being with Sawyer here

It was so much fun & special being with Sawyer here

Kristine & Sawyer at Tunnels

Kristine & Sawyer at Tunnels

Rinsing off back at the house

Rinsing off back at the house

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Despite not having full AC in the beach house, this place really had about everything else. Toys for Sawyer, beach chairs, snorkel gear, etc, a downstairs outdoor shower, a master bedroom outdoor tub and shower, great views into the jungle, very private, and a great location. We soon learned from Chase that most of these beach houses do not have AC, anyway. One of the first afternoons during Sawyer’s nap, Kristine and I drove a few miles east to Lumahai Beach to check out some bouldering I had researched on the beach. It turned out to be really fun bouldering on volcanic rock with the soft sandy beach as a crash pad. Kristine doesn’t boulder very much, but I was extremely happy she went with me. We had brought our rock shoes and chalk bags with us.

Very scenic bouldering

Very scenic bouldering

Though after a bit, the volcanic rock really takes a toll on your hands

Though after a bit, the volcanic rock really takes a toll on your hands

Me on a line called Problem D

Me on a line called Problem D

Kristine on a line called Problem G

Kristine on a line called Problem G

Lumahai Beach (north) bouldering wall. Routes can be found on mountainproject

Lumahai Beach (north) bouldering wall. Routes can be found on mountainproject

A good afternoon together

A good afternoon together

That evening we took a drive to the Kilauea Lighthouse, but it was closed. That’s ok because we had a ball chasing roosters and getting some nice pictures in the evening light.

Sawyer chasing a rooster

Sawyer chasing a rooster

Good family pic with the Kilauea Lighthouse behind

Good family pic with the Kilauea Lighthouse behind

Cool shades, Sawyer

Cool shades, Sawyer

The sun going down on the drive back

The sun going down on the drive back

The next day we all decided to give the famous Kalalua Trail a try (at least the first mile or so) to get some views of the amazing Napali Coast. We actually made it just over a mile in depite how rocky and muddy and wet it was and Sawyer walked a decent portion of it. She was beat about halfway back and in the pack she went and fell asleep. However, it was gorgeous scenery.

Welcome

Welcome

Sawyer & K hiking the Kalalau Trail

Sawyer & K hiking the Kalalau Trail

Dianne's face says it all

Dianne’s face says it all

Ken & Dianne and the Napali Coast

Ken & Dianne and the Napali Coast

Kalalau Beach is the termination of the Kalalau Trail about 10 miles further down the Napali Coast

Kalalau Beach is the termination of the Kalalau Trail about 10 miles further down the Napali Coast

That evening we went over to Chase’s wedding party/friends house they rented in Hanalei Bay. Apparently, it was owned by the real life family depicted in the movie Descendants starring George Clooney. Also, the house in which the move was filmed on the beach was immediately across the street, which I definitely recognized. We had a great time catching up with Chase, meeting his fiance Devon, who grew up on Kauai, and checking out the home.

Sawyer walking around the home

Sawyer walking around the home

The amazing home

The amazing home

The Kalalau Trail (Napali Coast)

The next morning we all woke up around 6am and K and I got ready for our big adventure of the week: trail run/hike the Kalalau Trail to Kalalau Beach and back in a day, which turns out to be about 5,000′ vertical gain and 23 miles RT. Ken & Dianne were so nice to hang with Sawyer for the day and I think they had a really fun time together at Tunnels Beach. Ken dropped K and I off at the Kalalau trailhead around 7am (only 2 miles west of our house) and it seemed like we beat the majority of folks that morning to get on the trail. Armed with a water bottle, Gatorade bottle, a backpack water bladder, and trail bars/snacks in our pockets, we went light and fast. We brought iodine tablets to purify the stream water as we had to refill several times throughout the day.

The Kalalau Trail map along the Napali Coast

The Kalalau Trail map along the Napali Coast. Click to enlarge

We tried to slowly run the first 4-5 miles of the trail, but much of it is so rough, rocky, muddy, and wet it was pretty dangerous to do so, especially on the down. Good thing is there were no people on the trail to try and get around. I had never sweated as much as I did on the Kalalau Trail with all of the humidity. I looked like I had already swam in the ocean. Anyway, the morning hours were relatively cool and in the shade as the sun had not come overhead yet.

Early morning mud

Early morning mud

Kristine

Kristine

Beautiful

Beautiful

Near the beginning of the trail

Near the beginning of the trail

Crossing Hanakapi'ai Stream

Crossing Hanakapi’ai Stream

2 miles and 30 minutes in we came upon Hanakapi'ai Beach

2 miles and 30 minutes in we came upon Hanakapi’ai Beach

And leaving Hanakapi'ai Beach

And leaving Hanakapi’ai Beach

One thing about this trail is it is A LOT of up and down. As soon as you get comfortable going up or down, the trail switches and you do the other mode. Miles 2-4 were some slow miles because of the overgrowth onto the trail and slick mud and rock. We came upon a lean-to shelter at mile 4 and I left my shirt hanging there as it was completely soaked with sweat. We chatted with a grizzled man at the lean-to laying on the bench from Oahu who had hiked this trail countless times in his 30 years of coming to Kauai.

Typical mountainous terrain along the Napali Coast

Typical mountainous terrain along the Napali Coast

Kristine and a view. Kalalau Beach is still a good 5-6 miles out

Kristine and a view. Kalalau Beach is still a good 5-6 miles out

A boat en route back from Kalalau Beach

A boat en route back from Kalalau Beach

We reached Hanakoa Valley at mile 6 (halfway point) and after that the trail really opened up, became much more runnable, and the views opened up as well. It was great.

Hanakoa Valley

Hanakoa Valley

Me and the mountains

Me and the mountains

Cruising along and still all smiles

Cruising along and still all smiles

Kristine

Kristine

I think around mile 7 was the fun and interesting portion of the trail that was pretty exposed down to the raging surf several  hundred feet below.

One of the more exposed portions of the trail

One of the more exposed portions of the trail

Kristine chugging along

Kristine chugging along

A panorama of a neat section of trail

A panorama of a neat section of trail

The trail opening up after mile 8

The trail opening up after mile 8

Getting close. Kalalau Beach can be seen right of center in the distance

Getting close. Kalalau Beach can be seen right of center in the distance

I see you, Kalalau Beach!

I see you, Kalalau Beach!

Another one

Another one

Nice meadows close to Kalalau Beach

Nice meadows close to Kalalau Beach

The home stretch

The home stretch

So, after about 4 hours on the trail, we reached Kalalau Beach. It was such a treat to be there. Many campers were camped in the trees just south of the beach and were beginning to come out to the beach. It reminded me of Leonardo DiCaprio and the island dwellers all going to the secret, remote beach in the older move The Beach. In fact, many folks were in the nude heading into the surf. We decided to not join the ranks of the nude.

Kristine and Kalalau Beach

Kristine and Kalalau Beach

Panorama of Kalalau Beach

Panorama of Kalalau Beach

Happy to be here together. Someday, we'll have to come back with Sawyer and camp a night

Happy to be here together. Someday, we’ll have to come back with Sawyer and camp a night

We ate one of our denser, larger snack bars we previously bought and rested for 20 minutes or so. We also gathered a few special coral pieces and rocks from the beach to remember it by. We said our goodbyes and began the slower return run/hike back the way we came.

The long way, but beautiful way home

The long, but beautiful way home

Coming back along the fun, exposed portion of the trail

Coming back along the fun, exposed portion of the trail

A quick little video of Kristine on the exposed portion of the trail:

On the return trip, we decided to take a detour and go check out Hanakoa Falls, which said only a half mile off the Kalalau Trail. However, it was a rough and slow trail consisting of some bushwhacking and we began to think if we’d ever see this waterfall. Finally, we reached the falls and I guess it was worth the detour.

Hanakoa Falls

Hanakoa Falls

The last few miles were slow and we were hiking by then. Lots of folks on the trail once we got back to mile 2, but fortunately the trail had dried out quite a bit so it was much less slick. We were back at the trail by about 4pm with tired legs and feet, but feeling good about our adventure. We walked the road back to our house trying to thumb and hitch a ride. We were finally picked up by some nice folks we met along the trail and drove us in the back of their pickup the rest of the way back arriving around 4:30pm just in time to see Sawyer waking up from her nap. I immediately went out to get us some much needed ginger beers and guava drinks from the Wainiha General Store as we (me) were craving these the last few miles.

The Remainder of the Week and Chase’s Wedding

We all did some more swimming and snorkeling on that Thursday and Kristine & I made it to Chase & Devon’s welcome part at the St. Regis in Princeville that evening.

Sunset over Hanalei Bay from the St. Regis

Sunset over Hanalei Bay from the St. Regis

At the St. Regis

At the St. Regis

The next morning we all went to Lumahai Beach for some exploring and swimming.

Lumahai Beach

Lumahai Beach

Sawyer scoping out the rocks and pools

Sawyer scoping out the rocks and pools

Waves against the rocks

Waves against the rocks

It was a good swimming hole

It was a good swimming hole

The gals loved it

The gals loved it

Happy girls

Happy girls

Not often do you get to stand at the end of the rainbow :)

Not often do you get to stand at the end of the rainbow 🙂

Harry & Halla had arrived late Friday night and came over Saturday morning to visit. We all went to Tunnels Beach and swam and snorkeled. It was so great to see them again. Its almost like we all had never skipped a beat! We definitely need to get together with them and their year old daughter soon on another vacation.

All of us at Tunnels Beach

All of us at Tunnels Beach

That evening we got ready for Chase & Devon’s wedding and drove ourselves to the Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens  for the wedding and reception. It was a great celebratory evening and was super fun to hang with Harry & Halla all night.

All dressed up as much as we ever do

All dressed up as much as we ever do

Another

Another

The ceremony

The ceremony

Chase & Devon

Chase & Devon

The reception

The reception

The four of us on the beach at the reception

The four of us on the beach at the reception

We did one more quick Tunnels Beach trip early morning to say our goodbyes. Sawyer was a tired gal after a big week.

At Tunnels

At Tunnels

One more of the three of us

One more of the three of us

After watching some early Sunday morning NFL games and a good Sawyer nap in my arms, we all loaded up the van and made our way to Lihue Airport. Little did we know that we were all in for a 2 day adventure to get back to Colorado. In a nutshell, due to limiting weight on the airplane because of turbulence, American decided to bump 20 folks off the plane. Kristine & I being two of them because we didn’t check-in the night before or early that morning. Ken & Dianne, however, did check-in the night before. So, after 6 hours at the airport that afternoon and a lot of tears and frustration, we were put up in the Marriott with food vouchers, we each got a $1,000 voucher on American, including Sawyer, and left the next day. We got home an entire day later on Tuesday evening. Ken & Dianne could have gone on without us and gotten home Monday evening, but we appreciated them so much hanging with us. Nevertheless, it was an adventure with a 2 year old, but really Sawyer did so very well. It was fun in retrospect to go through that adventure with her.

Sawyer loving her bus ride at LAX

Sawyer loving her bus ride at LAX

And, finally, we landed at DIA

And, finally, we landed at DIA

In conclusion, what a phenomenal family trip to a wonderful island. We would highly recommend this kind of trip and the island of Kauai to anyone looking to get away from the more developed islands. It was beyond special to share this trip with Ken & Dianne and especially to be able to bring Sawyer along and have so much fun with her.

Goodbye Kauai

Goodbye Kauai

Sawyer having a ball after eating at the Kilauea Fish Market

Sawyer having a ball after eating at the Kilauea Fish Market

Mom’s Visit & 6th Anniversary Trail Run

Mom came into town to visit us 2 weekends ago (well, really to visit Sawyer) and we all had a great time together. I think we all felt she really bonded with Sawyer and Sawyer really got to know Mom. Mom came to Aspen with us for Joel & Lauren’s wedding and was super babysitter for Sawyer while we partied down at Buttermilk with all of our friends.

Sawyer loves her Rainier

Sawyer loves her Rainier

And, Rainier loves Sawyer

And, Rainier loves Sawyer

Mom reading to Sawyer

Mom reading to Sawyer

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We all took a nice fall hike in Wilder Gulch at the top of Vail Pass one day and rolled over Independence Pass en route to Aspen to enjoy the awesome fall weather.

Wilder Gulch with Ptarmigan Hill behind

Wilder Gulch with Ptarmigan Hill behind

Sawyer loves this backpack

Sawyer loves this backpack

Great to be with Mom

Great to be with Mom

Who needs baby toys? Sticks, leaves, and rocks will do just fine

Who needs baby toys? Sticks, leaves, and rocks will do just fine

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Top of Independence Pass (12,100')

Top of Independence Pass (12,100′)

A bit chilly, but a good time and visit with Mom

A bit chilly, but a good time and visit with Mom

Then, our 6th year wedding anniversary was this past Saturday, October 3. Our good friend Sabrina was more than nice to come over and hang with Sawyer and the dogs while we had a 3 day activity planned. First was a trail run of one of our favorite trails accessible out our front door, the A10 trail, connecting Edwards and Arrowhead. This is a very popular mountain bike ride as you get a long 4 miles descent if biking from Arrowhead to Edwards. While we have both run, hiked, snowshoed this trail countless times, I have never really posted many pics of this fun loop. I believe the loop is about 10 miles Edwards to Arrowhead or vice versa with another 2+ miles on highway 6. I drove the car over to Arrowhead to leave it for us and ran the 2+ miles back home. Sabrina came over and Kristine & I departed up the trail around 11:45am.

An overview of the A10 as seen from Red & White Mountain to the north

An overview of the A10 as seen from Red & White Mountain to the north

A close-up of the descent down into McCoy Guclch and down the Arrowhead ski run

A close-up of the descent down into McCoy Guclch and down the Arrowhead ski run

This is such a great run with the first 4 miles from our house taking you up over 2,200′ vertical gain in about 4 miles to the high point of the trail at 9,425′. The views are outstanding of the Northern Sawatch Range and Lake Creek Valley.

Kristine on the ridgeline in the 4th meadow having done most of the elevation gain

Kristine on the ridgeline in the 4th meadow having done most of the elevation gain

Kristine topping out on the A10 trail

Kristine topping out on the A10 trail

We did pretty well this time around making it to the summit in about 50 minutes

We did pretty well this time around making it to the summit in about 50 minutes

On top!

On top!

Beautiful views looking back into the East Lake Creek Valley

Beautiful views looking back into the East Lake Creek Valley

Heading down to the saddle to get into McCoy Gulch

Heading down to the saddle to get into McCoy Gulch

Next stop: Arrowhead

Next stop: Arrowhead

We arrived at the car about 1 hour and 45 minutes after starting and quickly sped up to the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Bachelor Gulch for our 2nd activity for the day: a hour long couples massage that Kristine had set up! Let’s just say this was much needed and just plain awesome. We enjoyed the outdoor hot tub as well for 20 minutes afterwards.

Outdoor hot tub time at the Ritz

Outdoor hot tub time at the Ritz

Then, to top off our day, we changed, showered, and sped down to the Riverwalk Theater in Edwards to see the new Everest movie together at 4pm. We definitely wanted to see this together and actually really enjoyed it. Most other mountaineering-related Hollywood movies are a a bit far-fetched and unrealistic. However, Everest really seemed to be mostly spot-on with regards to the footage, camps, the story, etc. It is based on the 1996 Everest tragedy portrayed in Jon Krakauer’s book Into Thin Air.  It was much more emotional for us than we thought. I think its a super sad story to begin with and the fact we have some attachment towards that peak, it was really tough and hit home seeing Rob Hall die just below the South Summit and leaving his wife and unborn baby at home in New Zealand. Makes you think about things no doubt. But, we thought it was well done and the footage was super cool. I think they portrayed the mountain’s aspects very well from Kathmandu to the the Khumbu Valley, basecamp life, to the upper camps, and the Hillary Step and summit ridge. Even the box on the summit and the mound of prayer flags on the summit was very realistic.

Everest summit pic we took that morning 6 years ago on May 25

Everest summit pic we took that morning 6 years ago on May 25

We had a phenomenal day together just the two of us as it should be on your anniversary. Thanks so much to Sabrina for watching the 3 other Chalks for most of the day! Love you, Kristine!

Last of the Colors

One local trail run I really got to doing fairly often this year is up the 11er Red & White Mountain north of Avon. I just wanted to post a few pics of the route and view from the top. I can’t think how many times we have visited its summit in summer and winter, but its always a gorgeous vista of the Gore Range, Northern Sawatch, Elk Range, Tenmile & Mosquito Ranges, and of course Vail & Beaver Creek ski mountains.  I honestly cannot imagine a better view from an 11,000′ peak. Always looking for the buster trail run of lots of uphill and vertical, I thought of running the Red & White Mountain road from Wildridge earlier this Spring. Indeed, it turned out to be tough and by the time I crested the summit, I almost collapsed in exhaustion. But, oh how I do love that feeling. Its a superb run with 2,700′ of elevation gain in about 4.5 miles one way to its summit. There are a few flat sections, but for the most part its at a steady incline with the obvious steeper sections including the final 500′ from treeline up Red & White’s bald spot to the summit, which is barely run-able as its pretty steep. I’ve run this route twice in the last week and just love it. The round trip trail run from my car to summit and back down takes me right at about an hour and a half (if I’m feeling pretty good).

Route up Red & White Mountain as seen from Arrowhead ski mountain. Click to enlarge

Route up Red & White Mountain as seen from Arrowhead ski mountain. Click to enlarge

View to the Gores from Red & White's summit on an overcast October 11, 2014 day. Yes, one day before Kristine gave birth to our daughter, Sawyer

View to the Gores from Red & White’s summit on an overcast October 11, 2014 day. Yes, one day before Kristine gave birth to our daughter, Sawyer

View south down to the Vail Valley from Red & White's summit the same October 11 day. I had my phone on me and could be down fairly fast as I was on call for a birth :)

View south down to the Vail Valley from Red & White’s summit the same October 11 day. I had my phone on me and could be down fairly fast as I was on call for a birth 🙂

I also hiked up Arrowhead ski mountain with Rainier & Kona and got some pictures of the fading fall colors this past week. The weather sure has been beautiful out here in Colorado this October.

Rainier looking very "golden" in the fading daylight with Red & White Mountain behind

Rainier looking very “golden” in the fading daylight with Red & White Mountain behind

Heading down Arrowhead

Heading down Arrowhead

Ripsaw Ridge in the Gores

Ripsaw Ridge in the Gores

Left to right poking above the timbered ridgeline: Eagle's Nest, Mt. Powell, Peaks C, C', D, E, F, G, & H all in the Gores

Left to right poking above the timbered ridgeline: Eagle’s Nest, Mt. Powell, Peaks C, C’, D, E, F, G, & H all in the Gores

Gorgeous light

Gorgeous light

Looking east to the Grand Traverse and other Gore peaks from Arrowhead

Looking east to the Grand Traverse and other Gore peaks from Arrowhead

Still some colors out there

Still some colors out there

Aspens

Aspens

One of my very few Aspen pics this year

One of my very few Aspen pics this year