Over the boulders and through the jungle

An arduous and uneven path can set us off balance and cause us to climb over obstacles, but reward comes to those who stay on the path, see beyond the obstacles and eventually restore balance and wholeness.

Some of the best hikes I have ever tackled lead to beautiful waterfalls. One hike that comes to mind meanders up the northwest coast of Kauai on the Kalalau Trail, then jets inland and ends at Hanakapi’ai Falls. This is a favorite hike for my family, who never minded “taking the road less traveled.” This hike begins on a difficult, but well maintained Hawaii State Park trail. Then, the hiker takes a turn into a path of an unmaintained river trail created by a 100-foot waterfall.

As the hiker veers from civilization to adventure, he or she finds water coursing between boulders that can be slippery. If my memory serves me correctly, after crossing the stream one of the many times, the path takes an uphill jaunt into the jungle and through the music of a bamboo forest. Bamboo stalks grow very large in this unspoiled jungle and as the wind blows them into one another, it sounds like nature’s melody.

The trail eventually leads back to the rushing mountain stream where we must cross. Crossing this river can be tricky and dangerous. A jeep with a stretcher cannot just buzz up this mountain and into the jungle.

Basically, our group would stand at the edge and discuss the routes that would be easiest and safest. We seldom agree in these cases and some of us have different levels of agility and length of stride. So, we choose the individual paths that best meet our needs and carefully crawl to dry land on the other side.

This crossing pattern continues for about two miles, and if the season is right, one can pick mangoes along the way. I distinctly recall the time we hiked through after mango season only to enjoy the gush of rotten gooey mango under our boots and swarm of fruit flies.

As always, the end of the trail promises water rushing at such speed that it is difficult to hear conversation of the person next to you. A cold swim in the mountain pool follows lunch before commencing the identical trek back to the trail head.

The first time our family hiked this trail, Elise and Nick were about sixth and eighth grade. Nick suffered a bout of asthma. Jungle humidity, combined with the climbing assured a difficult way. He pushed himself beyond what we thought he was capable and no one enjoyed swimming in the mountain pool more than he did.

When hiking a difficult trail we wish our way would straighten, the obstacles would lessen and our balance would be restored. But, in order to find the waterfall and relax in the spray of the rushing water and listen to its force, we must forge over the large rocks. We must muck through rotten mangoes, and appreciate the music of bamboo when we have the chance.

The journey of healing reminds me of the trail. We walk on uneven ground now, but the promise is ahead that we will one day walk on a level path and see the balance restored if we can only look ahead of the boulders and envision the calm that awaits on the other side.