EMBARKING ON THIS INCREDIBLE EXPEDITION TO REACH K'A'AU CRATER WAS THE MOST INVIGORATING AND GRATIFYING WAY TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR. AFTER THREE AND A HALF HOURS OF TRUDGING THROUGH POOLS OF MUD, SCALING THREE WATERFALLS AND STRENUOUS ROPE CLIMBING, WE FINALLY REACHED THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN THAT OVERLOOKED THE CRATER ON ONE SIDE AND ON THE OTHER, TOWERED OVER THE FOREST BELOW. IT WAS A SURREAL MOMENT TO REACH THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND STAND 2300 FEET UP IN THE AIR. THE CRATER ITSELF RESEMBLES AN UNDISTURBED MEADOW WITH TALL, OVERGROWN GRASS. ANOTHER HOUR PASSED AS WE HIKED THE LOOP BACK DOWN TO WHERE WE BEGAN AND WHEN WE FINALLY EMERGED FROM THE FOREST AND STEPPED ONTO CONCRETE, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE A DREAM. WE WERE EXHAUSTED (AND EXTREMELY FILTHY) BUT NONETHELESS TRIUMPHANT. MY AMBITION TO SEEK GREATER ADVENTURE THIS YEAR HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A GOOD START. I'M EAGER TO UNDERTAKE MANY MORE EXPERIENCES LIKE THIS AND MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TRY NEW AND EXHILARATING THINGS. CHEERS TO 2016!
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