The Scary Part of the Kalalau Trail
22. Sep, 2010 
180 Comments
I am a total defensive pessimist meaning I spend a lot of time worrying about all the things that can go wrong in any given situation. This may sounds like a pretty crappy way to live (unless you too have a defensive pessimist qualities), but it is actually quite adaptive.
In most cases, imagining the worst case scenario acts as motivation, which in turn helps people prepare to do their absolute best. In college, I would study for a test assuming I would fail it, which motivated me to over study and ace nearly every test I have ever taken.
So why all the psychobabble? When planning a hike a Kauai’s Kalalau Trail, I became totally fixated on the “scary part” of the trail. Backpacker Magazine rated the Kalalau Trail as one of America’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Hikes with a 10 out of 10 for terrain with a 10 meaning “deadly.” A section of the trail hugs dangerously to the edge of a terribly eroded cliff that sits 300 feet above the rocky surf and well since I have a bit of a height sensitivity my brain instantly spiraled into all the things that could go wrong.
I gathered all the information I could about that section of the trail, I talked to people that had hiked it, and watched youtube videos of the “scary section” of trail. I imagined what it would be like to plummet 300 feet to the ocean floor and visualized ways I could use my trekking poles to stop myself from plunging off the cliff.
What all this exhausting mental preparation was for was when I actually got to the section of the trail, it wouldn’t be as frightening as I had built up in my head and I would sail through with very little difficulty. Problem was the trail was way worse than I had imagined.
I will never forget the sick, horrifying feeling I got deep in my gut as I rounded a bend and caught the first glimpse of the horribly eroded section of trail. How could it be worse than I had imagined? I had not prepared for this!
It was 2 in the afternoon and we had been on our feet since 5am. The wind was blowing, the heat was searing, the air smelled like rotting goat, I had sand in my contacts, and my anxiety was dizzying. I cried. I didn’t trust myself to make it though the section of trail without slipping. I was weary. I really didn’t want to die, but even more so, I really didn’t want to turn around.
I told Chris through my tears, “Tell everyone I love them,” and headed out to face my fears.
See that faint line? That's not even the worst of it!
Chris out scouting the trail and experiencing no fear whatsoever
I'm not happy but I am doing it!
Don't look down!
The return trip was only half as bad
Gorgeous, but scary. Hope you enjoyed the walk back more. What’s wrong with those people that walk right out on those ledges anyway?
That looks terrifying! Glad it was at least sunny and not raining!
Love the last image, you are really balancing back to the cliff (and I don’t blame you!)
There is not a hope in hell I would get Sue, my wife, up there but I reckon it would be great fun!!
That’s an insane climb! Looks awesome though.