I’m a princess — I’m the first to admit it. Sure, I can endure sweaty mixed martial arts classes and grueling interval training sessions, but when placed in the great outdoors, I’m a helpless babe in the woods.
At the start of a five-mile, 3 1⁄2 hour hike on the lower Waimano Trail with Barefoot Hikers Hawaii, my hair was immediately attacked by some thorny vines. Fortunately, fellow hiker Doug Inglis rescued me.
I slipped in the mud more than once, ended up with a big scrape and bruise on one leg, blisters on one foot and a mystery insect bite on my hand that made it look as if I had been attacked by a vampire.
But I survived it all, marking another successful outing for Barefoot Hikers Hawaii, which offers "beginner to intermediate hikes to all who love the sense of adventure and aren’t willing to die for it on dangerous cliffs, rivers, and ravines," according to its website.
Jeremy Gottschalk is one of the club’s founders and has been leading hikes on the island since 2008. (Despite the name, hikers are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes.)
"We don’t go out looking for adrenaline fixes on dangerous hikes. Safety first, then fun," he said.
The outdoor recreational activities allow participants to "see the outdoors without the stress of losing their way or going alone," Gottschalk said. "I do a good job of making sure everyone returns from our hikes."
The club got its start from a bunch of military members who liked to hike and it grew from there. "Our excursions turned into what we are today: a free, fun, social hiking group," Gottschalk said.
Hikes are held regularly, but not on any particular schedule, and attract small groups. Attendance at recent treks to Kuliouou Valley, Maunawili Falls, Hawaiiloa Ridge and Kalauao Falls in Aiea ranged from four people to 13.
Barefoot Hikers also organizes pre-hike pancake breakfasts, kayak excursions and other fun activities (no alcohol or illegal drugs allowed). Word of events is spread through www.meetup.com and Twitter (@BarefootHikers).
The novice/intermediate Waimano Trail is at the top of Waimano Home Road in Pearl City, and can prove difficult when muddy. The Barefoot Hikers group I was with was led by Gottschalk. The trail itself is pretty and serene. We started by following a stream downward, making our way through tangles of tree branches. We then began our climb uphill, hiking through vegetation. We had to be alert for holes on the way to the ridge, and of course, I slipped into one but avoided twisting my ankle.
We didn’t find the tunnels we were looking for, but Gottschalk kept us on track because the trail also traverses a public hunting area.
The group of hikers — a mixture of locals and visitors — provided good company, with everyone chatting and helping one another along the way. When you hike with people for several hours, you have an opportunity to get to know them and might forget this isn’t just a social event. As a reminder of the dangers inherent in the wilderness, someone fell into the water during a stream crossing while trying to catch that perfect shot with a camera.
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