Snow Days - December

This December has been an amazing month for the aficionados of the white stuff. As it happens, we got a season’s pass at Cypress this year, and I have put it to good use already. Even on weekends there were almost no lift line-ups at the new Raven Chair. OK, new to us... its been there since the 2010 Olympics, but we haven't skied at Cypress since then. And the snow just kept falling.

Snow-covered Lions (that's the name of the peaks on the right)

Above the clouds (sweet to escape cold and fog in the city for a few hours)

Sunset at Cypress ski area

Kauai : December 1 - 9

View from Kilohana lookout at the end of the Alakai trail (Kilauea Pt in the distant upper left)

This year we choose Kauai for our traditional early winter get-away week. Although in close proximity to the other Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is considerably different from Maui and the Big Island. It is the oldest of the main islands and therefore has undergone much erosion. Its highest peak, Mount Waiʻaleʻale, is not even 1600 meter high, well short of the volcanic shields of Mauna Kea and Loa on the Big Island with over 4000 meter elevation above sea level. There are no bare lava fields or active flows on Kauai, and most of the island is covered by lush green. In exchange for elevation and sharp lava rock, Kauai sports a fine selection of endless sandy beaches. Oh, and did I mention the 'omnipresent' chicken (especially roosters)? Just on Kauai! Plus a handful of feral cats and goats. Thankfully the latter kept relatively quiet at night time.

Palis (= cliffs) on the dry side of the Na'pali coast

The most amazing sight of Kauai has to be the Na’Pali coast. We explored it hiking the Kalalau trail that winds its way along the steep cliffs with several spots of exposure. Koke'e Park with its many trails allows access to the top of the same cliffs with stunning views. Our favored trail there was the Nu’alolo/ Awa’awapuhi loop leading to the top of fluted Palis. Unexpectedly, our Kauai visit turned into a hiking trip: we also explored the 'high-altitude' Alakai swamp and the Maha'ulepu sandstone cliffs on the southeast shore. Since we had our camping gear along for the 3-day hike on the Kalalau trail, we spent the whole week camping at very scenic beach campsites, rooster wake-up calls included (county parks Anini, Ha’ena and Saltponds, $3/person; state parks Polihale and Kalalau, $20/night... but nobody came to check). Apparently there is also nice camping in Koke'e Park.

Exposed section of the Kalalau trail at 7 miles (just about 100 meters down to the crashing waves)

Lehua flower

Lush greenery along the Alakai trail

Camping at Polihale beach at the south end of the Na'Pali coast

Underwater we encountered turtles and the many colorful fish, but corals were not as varied and plentiful as on the Big Island, due to the colder water temperatures as we were told. We saw several of the rare monk seals, each guarded by seal protection volunteers. Apparently there only about 40 of them left on the main islands. The Kilauea Reserve is a great place to observe red-footed boobies, albatrosses, frigate and tropic birds. We also watched tropic birds soaring the deep canyons on the Na'Pali, making us wish do join them on our wings. Alas, we didn't bring them and also didn't see any sensible places to launch from (the vids I found on the internet looked plainly crazy). So we splurged and went for the famous helicopter ride around the island. The bird’s eye view of our hiking destinations was a great way to end this visit.