Another brilliant Saturday outing! Some of the guys from the base and I decided to go hiking upcountry in a pine forest (an apparent anomaly in Maui) and it was quite the adventure. First off, I didn't know quite where we were going but got there regardless. Or close anyhow. Then came the stretch of unpaved road I was warned of...but i was told that you technically didn't need a four wheel drive for it. I now believe you technically do. Fortunately, one of the guys was a skilled driver and i gave up the wheel to let him navigate the deeply rutted road. We got there and back intact, but if i ever go back its going to be in a truck:) My car was (still is, actually...) covered- truly covered- in loose dirt.
That said, the hike was lovely. The cool pine air, the views across the cloud tops where we could look down on the West Maui Mountains (we were opposite them on the slopes of Haleakala volcanic crater), and the quiet forrest trails in good company...it was an unusual and pleasant afternoon.
This was probably my last weekend to do an all day outing of this nature before outreach- time is flying. So I was all the more grateful for the peace and happiness of a good companionable ramble through the woods. I tore a gaping hole in my jeans, got pine needles in my hair and was covered in dirt and soot (off burned trees I climbed over)... I was definitely immersed in the day:) And in the end, Polipoli was fun.
