On my family’s vacation to Kauai this year, I had my sights set on backpacking the Kalalau Trail that hugs the along the Na Pali coastline. I’ve been to Kauai 3 or 4 times now and every time I’ve gone I’ve had this trail on my mind. The last time we vacationed here, I brought along my overnight pack and sleeping bag so I could attempt the trip, but due to the rains we experienced that year, I decided to forgo the hike. This time, being better prepared and looking at more favorable weather, I went for it.
The October 2008 issue of Backpacker magazine, rates the Kalalau Trail as one of America’s Ten most Dangerous Hikes. I’ll admit, the possibility of doing one of Americas deadliest trails held a certain mystique for me, and I’d be a liar if I said that article wasn’t part of the reason I so badly wanted to hike it, even though I know Backpacker can be over the top sometimes. My interest in Kalalau might have also had something to do with the proximity of where the trail was in relation to where we were staying on the island in Princeville. Or maybe thinking the hike was a once in a lifetime thing even though I’d been to this island several times now. I mean, one of the hikes on Backpacker’s list is in my home state and I have never hiked it or really given it more than a passing thought. The Muir Snowfield on Mt Rainier in Washington is on the list. What makes Kalalau different? Why have I been so drawn to it? »Read More
