Austin's Hawaiian weekly. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1899-190?, 1899-07-29
From shore

Ut sea, glowing III the rays OF Stlf1Set-gray at
sunrise, or dusky purple at night it's bold rock
memory; though Of the many who admire it,
there are few who care to climb. 1t must be a
lovely view from the top, said one fair visitor
who graced Our isle this summer, lets make up
party and climb it." But they didn't. 1t doesn't
look easy from the lana; of the Hawaiian Hotel
annex and by the time you get to the lighthouse
the spurs of the Head look very long and steep
and many an enthusiastic group of climbers have
elt their courage o9ze out of their toes and gone
tor dip instead. That is the ladies' and the
gentlemen of course kept with their fair COM
paniOns.
1t isn't an easy climb for ladies or even men,
the distance is not so long nor the danger great
but the wind and the crunbling coral present diff
ficulties that make the trip tiresone The shore
side of the Head has shorter and easier Slopes but
it's long way round. Still the game is worth
the candle. there is a splendid view from the
flagstaff and the old crater is well worth visit.
The chief essentials old clothes, stout nailed
boots, for the rocks are sharp and slippery, and
sure foot. The writer has climbed in many coun-
tries and on many ranges and has reached the
point where he does not consider it an ignominy
to Chamber all tours this position will be found
wise precaution in places on Diamond Head.
Another good idea is to stick to trail going up
and not to leave it coming down. Don't be tempt
ed by the hollows between the ribs where the dry
bed of torrent has once whired and surged,
leaving a tempting looking path to the bottom.
Don't tackle it, stick to the ridge the gully looks
short and it looks easy from the top and not inn
practicable from the bottom. Half way down
though, YOU come across precipices, miniature in
deed but none too easy. This is warning from
experience.
The gully is perhaps three or four feet wide
and the precipice ten feet high, all of which
sounds easy in print, but ;-you are standing, OF
rather supporting yourself on slope of decom-
posed rock that breaks away in little cubes at the
touch the place where you are to land at the
bottom of the drop is another slope ready to slide
away under your feet. You sit on the edge of the
dry fall and spread-eagle yourself across the
guch. If you are woman you wish you hadn't
come if man you talk to yourself and jolly
yourself along at being afraid of little thing like
that Finally you slip over the edge and-zip-
YOU reach the bottom in most ungainly sitting
pose. hastily taken to save yourself from incon-
tinenty proceeding to sea level. The skin on
ankles and elbows has gone and most important
point of all--you can't get back. Then the rest
of the party silhouette themselves against the sky
coming down the ridge, laughing and having
good time and YOU duck your head. lest they
should see YOU, though you know they couldn't
see giraffe in the beautiful little trap you find
Yourself in. Finally you reach the end of the
short cut" bruised physically and perhaps men
tally. according to YOUR sense of h,nor as applied
against Yourself The rest of the folks are womb
ering what kept YOU so long and YOU murlnur
something about looking for specimens and
don't go in bathing until after dark when the
tonic of the. surf finds out your spots and
relieves YOUR stiffness at the same time. There
is trail leading I'D directly from the lighthouse
that is the shortest ascent and practical enough
with stiff little scramble lust before yoM reach
the crest or there is longer and easier wav
VI, .%~;1o ,orI old