The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-10-14
lcommunica,ed.l
The Ascent of waInIenIe. kauai.

This central peak Of the island Of Kauai, al
though it does not rank among the most elevated
Of our Hawaiian mountains. being only a tribe
over 5000 feet in height, is nevertheless from its
unique character, highly interesting object.
.. From the fact of its summit being less easily
accessible than most OF the mOuntain-tOps on the
islands. it has been assembled but few times by
whites. First in October, 1862, by Messrs. Row
ell and johnson, and the writer, from the Wal
mea side. The next ascent was made in March
/ 1870, by G. n. Wilcox aud DR.. Wavra Of the
Austrian ship Donau. on the Waiua side. The
! third and last ascent was made in the middle Of
the present month by G.. y. Wilcox, A. H.
Smith, and the writer, on the Wailua side and
Of this expedition it is proposed to give here
short account
We left Lihue on the morning of Monday.
September l4th, about 9 o'clock, and passing
near the lower and upper Wailua falls, We soon
entered the valley through which flows the north
ern branch Of the Waiua river. Here our mar
row trail led US for several miles through groves
Of guava, bamboo and lebRd, interspersed with
open lawns OF fern and luxuriant grass This
whole country. stretching away for miles to the
southwark, aud embracing all the region drained
by the Wailua, is one Of the finest hunting
grounds on Hawaii nei for wild cattle or hogs
When the jungle Of ferns and trees became too
dense for horseback travel we left our steeds in
charge of boy. and proceeded on foot up the
valley till nearly sunset, when We pitched our
tent near the babliug brook" High. forest
covered ridges rose on either side Of the valley
limiting our vision Of the outer world to the white
clouds which were sailing overhead. On roar
ing fire at the tent door We boiled our coffee and
roasted sundry delicate joints Of yeuison which
had been shot Just before reaching camp. The
next morning after an early breakfast the men
again shouldered their heavy haaires Of provi-
slOns and clothing and we resumed our tramp up
the narrow gorge; now eaping from one moss
covered rock to another in the bed OF the stream,
or perchance wading through its cool, clear wa
ter's, and now on the bank scrambling through the
jungle bananas, ard the palm-like hdphu and
dmau and ferns of smaller proportions in endless
variety. After mile or two of such travel we
reached a spot where the stream divided, and on
the spur between the two branches we began our
climb. The guide went ahead, Ratchet in band
and cleared the pathway which had not been
travelled for four years. and was consequently
very much overgrown with vines and uuderbrush.
II was about noon when we reached the junction
OF the spur We we're ascending with the main
ridge After a short rest and little refresh
ment we went on along the narrow road, now up
and now down vast abyss on either hand.
Soon arrived at the foot Of the steepest climb
On the whole route. The ridge risee abruptly at
an angle Of about seventy degrees TO the height Of
over thousand feet. Were it not for the thick
tangled growth Of trees and vines and bushes
which cover this pail it would be utterly mpossi-
bic TO ascend it. But for every step one takes 1
here is a root, or branch, or q slender saplng, I
IT a swinging vine just overhead within reach Of 1
he hands. Such mountain climbing as This is
magnificent exercise Half the time the body is
lifted perpendicularly by the arms alone, thus
ringing into play the muscles Of the arms and
hest, and there is not muscle Of the body but
5 called upon to do its share Of service. About
alf way up this pai We passed large overhang-
ng rock which is known as the Watiaenlake.
Tradition Informs Us that woman once lay down
I'D died under its shadow from the effects OF cold
r exhaustion. We had now entered the region
{ perpetual moisture, and light intangible clouds
OCCASIONALLY developed Us for moment aud then
Dated on up the mountain side. Everything
as covered with grizzly moss to a depth OF
Eo or three inches which had a sponge.ike ca
acity for absorbing water. Upon seizing a
ranch which had the appearance Of being as large
; a mans arm one would 6nd stick an inch in
iameter 10 his hand and would feel a deluge Of
. water Poariug down his sleeve
The sound Of dripping water is the one uninter.
lpted sound Of all these elevated forests We
ere OF course soon wet 10 the skin "a condition
which those Of US who had no change Of raiment,
maiued until we reached home again When,
ter several hours Of exhaustiug labor We gained
&c top Of the blu, ii was after I've o'clock, and We
received that ii would be useless to attemp, to
aeh the regular eamPing.grouud before dark SO
cleared of place where the ridge was about ten
ct in width aud erected the tent beneath the lehua
ees. One side Of the teut rested on the brink ola
rpeudieular precipiee hundreds Of feet IN depth.
d the other side was so near TO almost equally
ghtfnl gulf as TO prevent all passage back and
rih. As We were engaged 10 the necessary prrpar.
100 for The night, bright-eyed apstsp,ts iuquisi.
rely Fitted around rs chipping their ast5nishment
the strange intrusion, and the sooiy 90, perched
the top mosi boughs, with apparent uonchalance,
listled Poleokeo. There being no standing water
re our meu resorted 10 the expedient Of collecting
quantity Of moss from the trees from which they
ung out several quarts Of coffee colored water,
Itch tasted much better than It looked
morning We len thls place, The name
which am compelled by delicacy TO suppress.
d amer aboat three hours Of Iaborious travel