Chutes and Ladders

We weren't two hours on Maui and Mark, our host and guide for the three days on this beautiful island, took us on our first adventure to a "secret" spot called Chutes and Ladders.

It began with an easy stroll through some tall grass on level ground.

This isn't too bad, I thought. What's the big deal? Where are the chutes? The ladders?

Oh, here they are.  You have to take off your shoes like this - flip flops, which back in Minnesota I would NEVER have worn on a hike. But, here in Hawaii they are the preferred shoe for just about everything.

Then, you shimmy barefoot down this knotted rope. All the way down to the volcanic sharp rock below.
Like this.

Then, you hold on tight to the rock which can break at any point (all the guide books warned of this) and carefully maneuver around the ledge, being careful not to look down.

Then, you jump, dive, or flip into the secluded, calm, clear tidal pool below.

Some of us are better at this than others. Some of us (okay, just me) are afraid of heights, climbing down a shaky rope while wearing a skirt, and would rather die than dive into a shallow pool. But, this girl decided to bite the bullet and go for it. And this girl is so glad she went along for the ride. She would do it again in a heartbeat.