napali coast, kauai

“Does anyone know how well the powers that be patrol the Kalalau trail checking for permits?

Does it depend on the season?

Does anybody know how much the fine is if you are caught without a permit?”

“Most of the guides only walk the whole thing periodically, once every couple of weeks or so (from what I was told, in 1991, when I did it), so things are probably a little different, since a few people have dissappeared from the trail over the years. there used to be a commune at the end of the trail, with quite a number drop outs hanging there.”

“Why don't you just try to abide by the rules & get a permit, then you wouldn't have to worry about this?”

“Why don`t you just get off your high-horse and stop being an ass, wanderer.”

“get a permit buttwipe.”

“You can take my comment anyway you like, of course, however you should know that if you really give a S#$% about the wilderness, National Parks, Trails, etc., that the $$$ allocated to maintain / upkeep / manage are often based upon visitation levels, If you're illegal without a permit it hurts everyone since they're's poor tracking of usage. That then hurts again whenever people fight to set aside more land for recreational use because those fighting against more land set-aside will point to low visitation levels.

Get your head out of you butthole and look around, there's a lot to see & learn.
last edited: 6/07/05 10:12:39 AM”

“I posted a question about fines and permits not an opinion poll about ethics. I have been trying to arrange a permit through the most jack-a$$ed permit application proceedure I have ever used. I like permits. Permits are good. They are a neccessary evil unfortuanately. However, it is also neccessary to make the application proceedure feasible.”

“I just came back from 5 days on the Kalalau in late May. At the trail's end, there were many of us that had permits, many "residents" (no permits) and quite a few 1-4 day hikers that had no permit. Many of the "no permit" people were Hawaii residents that "didn't bother" to get a permit. One couple had trouble with the extra day they needed and the local permit office gave out an extra day beyond the legal limit (some negotiability at office). I understand the penalty is confiscation of gear. A coworker here in Idaho experienced th rangers coming in by chopper a few years back to clean up the place but we didn't see such officers in our stay.
Great place, well worth the effort and hike! We did, however, lose half of our party at the mid point (hanakowa) due to heat (try to hike earlier than noon) and exposure on the sometimes daunting trail (spill is down 800' to the ocean). But for the stalwart, the views are out of this world and we did meet a 72 yr old man with a wooden leg packing in!”

“KeepOnWalking, Here's my original post:

"“Why don't you just try to abide by the rules & get a permit, then you wouldn't have to worry about this?”

I didn't call you an #&%!$, as you did me, I simply asked what the problem was? I hiked some of this area & some of these very trails a couple years ago, I was actually going to email you some info, but you don't have any valid info in your profile... your email address shown is:
Email: georgedubbyaisaprick@yahoo.com

Cute, but offers no help whatsoever to anyone actually trying to give you info on backpacking, which is why, I "assume", you're here?

If you're serious, it would help if you filled out your profile. WHere are you from? Why did you find the permit process so difficult? Are you illiterate, or just unaccustomed to permits?

We know nothing about you, yet you start a flame war & call me names for asking why you didn't get a permit?”

“Thank you for the info gkidaho.

Wanderer, it is often difficult to tell the tone of someones post on a forum. I let my bad day effect my judgement of the tone in your post. It seems that you were just asking a fair question, not taking a jab at me. Sorry about that.
As for my profile, it will not let me type my place of residence. There is only a list of states to choose from. Since I am in Canada I chose to leave it blank. I did list an e-mail address so that people can contact me. That is more than many forum users do.”