Advice & Experience I Kalalau Trail

[@lostinyourways]

Your comment in the end about it being more so a pilgrimage instead of a hike was very beautifully put

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks!

[@carldale7048]

My wife and I did the shorter hike a couple months ago, and have watched a ton of Kalalau Trail hikes on KZbin. This video is the best yet to encapsulate the experience and dangers of the full trail. Most videos really just show the dangers of Crawler's Ledge and then stunning scenery. This did an amazing job of showing more "mundane" but real dangers like going off the trail or simply not being able communicate or refill water. It was a great way of showing that the reward is worth the effort, but that it's not for novice hikers or children.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot Carl really appreciate the support and stoked you enjoyed it. Kudos to you guys for undertaking the hike! It’s definitely not an easy one 🙏

[@sylviedelhomme9281]

Wouah, quelle vidéo et quel trail....j'ai été du début jusqu'à la fin...j'ai failli tombée de mon tapis de course parce que je me penchais pour ne pas tomber de la falaise 😅😅et ensuite le stress que tu devais ressentir qd tu étais perdu et en même temps inquiet pour ta femme... Tout ça pour dire que ce n'est pas un trail pour moi mais merci de l'avoir fait et de le partager avec nous❤

[@rafaelhidalgo]

@@sylviedelhomme9281 merci! Haha oui c’était une sacrée aventure!! J’aurais du prendre plus de temps pour vraiment en profiter mais bon, le temps était compté. J’ai dû confronter mes peurs haha

[@mauikayak]

Aloha Rafael! I met you at the waterfall on Kalalau beach that day! Wonderful video, mahalo for the respect for this sacred place! I hike the trail regularly, it is always epic!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks so much for your message! Yes I remember meeting there! Was great to speak! I hope i accurately reflected the beauty of this sanctuary! And I hope our paths cross again one day!

[@alohalaniboido8083]

Very responsible and intelligent guide to this trail. Note: He hiked it during the dry season. This is the only way to do it. The soil becomes extremely slippery during the wet season.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot Alohalani 🙏

[@tinyvanliving4488]

This is not “the only way to do it” 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@ianl4518]

Stunning trail and an epic film, well done to you. I know that feeling of losing the trail a few times and each time you get a bit more desperate to undo your mistake!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks Ian! Really appreciate the continues support! Took me a while to put this one together haha but was worth it for such an epic adventure!

[@tracimills9144]

Oh my gosh! I was holding my breath during a lot of this. Glad you made it out safely. Your video was so well done and I love the suspense added by the music.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot Traci!! 🙏

[@billybrown5455]

This is a well done video, great information and excellent footage. I thought I'd skip through it, but it truly kept my attention even though I frequent the area. I appreciate you were very real with the challenges faced, versus over-sensationalizing it like so many do. Although it's possible your impressive speed got you lost a couple times, as you missed some markers pointing the way... especially the mile 4 marker that has an arrow pointing the way uphill. The dirt tracks on the rocks at the stream crossings should have helped also, or lack there of when you crossed the stream instead of turning left downhill near mile 9. Myself and others have piled up sticks attempting to at least just give someone enough pause to look around and see it's a switchback. Same with at Kalalau Beach missing the right turn there (you caught yourself quickly)... the path straight is used to reach other areas, but some trail work has been done to make to clear the main trail heads right into the trees. Someone trail running may have less time to process these intersections or recognize an intersection existed. As you already pointed out a digital map w/ GPS location on your phone is always a good safety measure, at a minimum to retrace your steps! I find the route rather obvious overall... but maybe less so for those going at over twice the speed running. Hopefully not taken as any criticism... rather I'm impressed how fast you tackled a seriously challenging trail even with some route finding troubles! You made it look easy! Hopefully you get a chance to enjoy Kalalau for a few nights in the future!! 🤙

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write a long response. You are right my pace most certainly didn’t help me have the lucidity to be aware of the markers. Thanks for the tips on the mile markers; you certainly know the course very well. I certainly hope to make it again and spend more time next time round.

[@oneloveonetrail3500]

Rafael, excellent editing and graphics. I am going to have to rewatch your videos for tips and tricks. Your videos are solid my friend.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot!! Really appreciate the kind words!

[@mo-pr5uf]

Fantastic video! I was lost a couple of times on this trail as well. I read it online that hikers sometimes take the goat trails without knowing it. Luckily my Garmin Fenix was preloaded with the course navigation. It alerted me both times and guided me back to the right path (it took awhile to find my way back to the trail because it can get very confusing like you say in the video).

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks for your message! I should have loaded the GPX as well as I also have a Garmin Fenix… I think I will always load the maps on any trail going forward.

[@phucle9339]

I have watched your video clip: It was professionally filmed and very interesting! I admire your enthusiasm and your spirit of exploration. The final destination of your hiking was the Kalalau, but you didn’t have enough time to enjoy it because you had to go back to Ke’e Beach on time. I know you were exhausted because of 22 mile round trip…. Next time you can take a boat (raft) tour from Captain’s Andy to explore the Kalalau Beach: You can land the beach, swim and stay there for couple of hours. I took a boat tour for sightseeing at Napali Coast recently. Love it! Thanks for the video clip. ❤🎉

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks for dropping a line! Appreciate the support 🙏

[@raymondplodzien7459]

I traveled it years ago. Hard trail but well worth it. Great footage!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot!! Thanks 🙏

[@Ocean-kayak]

Congratulations! I’ve been 9 times. For those folks thinking of going, try to be aerobically fit . I don’t remember “crawlers ledge” being a problem. I always took it slow because the weight of your back pack might throw you off balance. I only went once during the winter when Hanakapiai was raging. A lot of locals wear tabis instead of hiking boots or running shoes. You can walk through the water with tabis and easier to grip. You do have to be careful fore sure on this trail but I wouldn’t exactly rate it as the most dangerous. Also the more you hike it the easier it gets and you won’t get lost. Nice to go when you don’t need to come back the same day. Maybe you could have your family come in on a kayak or hire a raft. Nice video 👍 🌊 🌴

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks Rose! Awesome input! 🙏

[@aimeetabura6624]

Thank you for mentioning Elite Baggage storage, we were happy to help. Storage for your luggage when on the trail is necessary, unfortunately theft happens in that area. Mahalo Rafael

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Indeed! Thanks for dropping a line 🙏

[@ברק-נ7ד]

Epic trail, not an easy one😅, getting lost is a bammer, well done for not loosing it, beautifull scinery and verry well edited as ususl👏

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot!! Was a great way to combine holiday and training for the Swiss Alps 100 which will be the next film!

[@ברק-נ7ד]

At least there you did not get lost😂

[@rafaelhidalgo]

@@ברק-נ7ד haha yeah exactly!!

[@mokefish8126]

Was your Salomon filter not sufficient to filter the water? It should filter bacteria and protozoa, do they recommend tablets for viruses? Also, I highly, highly recommend enabling tracking on the Garmin InReach, especially if you are on your own. Then your wife could just follow your moving dot on the webpage map, and at least see you're moving. The Garmin Explore phone app that connects to your InReach also has the ability to upload GPX files, so that could help you navigate/get back on trail. Glad you made it safe, looks like an epic adventure!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Good point I forgot to elaborate on that. I read in several places that sone type of virus or bacteria can make it through the salomon filter, so i added that disinfectant pill to be on the safe side.

[@Natural_Encounters]

Awesome video!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks!!

[@peterconrad2159]

What an amazing Trip! Nothing for me since i would probably faint at the ledge .

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks!! Haha yeah that ledge and some other sections were pretty insane. I did many trails in the Alps but this was on another level in terms of height and trail width haha thanks for following! I have several other films on my trail adventures if you are interested 🤗

[@Dog_gone_it]

Bro, the last part was sooooo stressful... i cant imagine not being able to enjoy that hike because i had to hurry back to my wife 😒 good thing im single 😅 hope you had fun regarless of getting lost!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Haha thanks mate! Was a hell of an adventure!

[@davidbeckman5618]

Very well done video. What month of the year did you do the trail?

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks David! I did it in July.

[@oneloveonetrail3500]

side note: Crawlers ledge.....HELL NO! That was scary looking

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Haha indeed!

[@jullyes8508]

Hello 😊 I’m going to the kalalau trail for the second time and last time I didn't have good shoes. Can you please advise me some safe shoes ? Thank you😊

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Hey! Sure! For me any shoe that has the “vibram” system is good. I used Hoka Speedgoat 4 which were great but I was trail running. Check out other shoes with Vibram: www.vibram.com/us

[@jullyes8508]

@@rafaelhidalgoThank You 😊

[@albertpattee6214]

HOPEFULLY some day You could bring the Family and ENJOY this TRAIL no TRAINING just ! TAKE the TIME enjoy the SCENERY and Bring lots of Food !

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Totally!

[@MisterWealth]

Are drone shots allowed?

[@rafaelhidalgo]

I dont think there are. I got them From stock footage. Looks more like helicoter to me.

[@juanhuizar5607]

No way I’d do that in a day. It wouldn’t be worth it. I’d definitely spend the night on the beach

[@rafaelhidalgo]

If i could I would have. I had a choice: Do it in a day or not at all.

[@alohalaniboido8083]

I still think this trail should be walked and savored, not run.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Yup totally agree

[@Leshotgun]

I've hiked this trail perhaps 6-8 times in my life so far, many times in my youth. The only danger is your own negligence. A lot of exaggerations in the video. But hey, less people hiking the trail the better :)

[@rafaelhidalgo]

As we say: “hope for the best and plan for the worst”. When it is your first time, safety is not so obvious.

[@tinyvanliving4488]

The crawlers ledge portion is pretty sensationalized. It is not the most dangerous area at all - the river crossings are, and it’s not even close, yet crawlers ledge gets the scary music and editing - by definition sensationalized

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Well mate, the day I was there the rivers were not scary so why in the world would i portray them as such when i cross them. I explain in the video the danger of the rivers when it rains and the dangers of getting lost which was my issue. That day MY scary part was crawler’s ledge and losing my bearings in the jungle . I am Reflecting my experience of the adventure, not second guessing what people’s perceptions are.