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The Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club Newsletter January - February - March 2001 |
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The Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club Newsletter January - February - March 2001 |
CHUCK GODEK
1928-2000
[The following tribute to club member Chuck Godek, who passed away recently, was provided by Stuart Ball. It was mistakenly omitted from the previous newsletter.]
I can’t believe Chuck Godek is dead. I thought old hikers, like old soldiers, just fade away. Chuck was such a agile, powerful hiker. Steve Brown described him as "loping" along the Ko‘olau summit. With the exception of Kipapa-Manana, Chuck hiked the entire summit ridge. That includes the treacherous Pali, Lanihuli, and Moanalua sections which require ropes and a lot of guts. Chuck’s other favorite area was Moanalua Valley. He and Erwin (Ski Poles) Jaskulski developed a route on the left ridge which produced a hair-raising loop along the summit and down the stream trail. Chuck and Ski Poles also worked out the middle ridge route. Chuck and I then developed the Pu‘u Keahi a Kahoe hike, connecting the middle ridge and powerline trails along the summit.
Chuck’s trademark was a hardhat, which he wore on every hike. Some thought it amusing, others intimidating, but everyone knew it was the mark of a serious hiker. Around the campfire in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in 1983 I finally asked Chuck why he wore the hardhat. He thought for a moment and then replied "I don’t know, but let’s bury it here in Montana." So to this day a hardhat remains buried in the shadow of Trapper Peak (unless the bears have dug it up).
On mainland and Neighbor Island trips Chuck was famous for carrying heavy loads (move over, Grant). He took a huge Sears tent, like a pavilion, and lots of canned goods. On a Waimanu trip in 1985 Carole Moon heard a pop and a whoosh from Chuck’s tent at the beach campsite. She quickly investigated and found Chuck downing an ice cold beer! Needless to say he offered her one, which she did not refuse. I particularly remember the first time I did the difficult dayhike up Mauna Kea in 1982. At the trailhead were 15 of us, including Chuck. I think maybe 3 or 4 actually made it to the top. I started slowly, got stronger by the adze cave, and then faded above Lake Waiau. Totally out of breath, I finally creeped up the last cone to the summit. There was Chuck, fast asleep, hardhat over his face. When I kicked him gently, he woke up and boomed "Stuart! Good to see you." Well Chuck, it was good knowing you and hiking with you. Aloha.
OPAE’ULA FENCING PRESENTATION
At the Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club Board of Directors’ Meeting of September 20, 2000, a presentation by Joby Rohrer, Kapua Kawelo, and Vince Costello, Natural Resource Program Managers for the U.S. Army, and Manabu Tagomori, Water Resources Manager for Kamehameha Schools was made. They provided an excellent slide show and briefing depicting some of the history and conservation theory behind the exclosure fencing at Opae’ula along the Koolau Summit Trail (KST).
Joby emphasized the importance of removing the feral pig population before any efforts at revitalizing native endangered flora and fauna could begin. Their presentation was focused on the premise that while perhaps infringing on the KST, they would ensure that the fence would in no way obstruct hikers, and that at any intersection of fence and trail, a stile with a pole to ensure the hiker’s balance would be installed. They encouraged members of HTMC to attend the preliminary stages of building the fence when the supports were set, and to follow up after the fence was installed. They unequivocally stated that any obstruction to a hiker’s passage would be resolved to meet the hiker’s needs.
Mr. Tagomori indicated his pleasure at being invited to our board meeting and his pleasant surprise at our long history as a club and strong interest in both conservation and hiking. He suggested that in the future, hiking along Kamehameha Schools’ property would be restricted by permit and that HTMC organized hikes would receive favored consideration. He also suggested that a member of HTMC would be considered as representative on their water resources board. Patrick will follow up on this matter.
SIERRA CLUB EXPRESSES APPRECIATION TO HTMC
[On September 3rd, 2000, Mabel Kekina received the following letter from Gwen Sinclair, Sierra Club Oahu Group Outings Committee.]
Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club
P.O. Box 2238
Honolulu, HI 96804
Many times, when hiking trails on the island, we say a quiet thank you to HTMC. I’d like to take this opportunity to loudly praise HTMC’s trail maintenance activities on O’ahu. Without you, our trails would be in much poorer shape. All of the island’s hikers owe HTMC, and especially Mabel Kekina and the Sunday trail clearing crew, a debt of gratitude.
On behalf of the Sierra Club, O’ahu Outings Committee, I would like to thank HTMC for its long-time leadership in hiking on O’ahu. We greatly appreciate HTMC’s continuing support of Hawai’i’s hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Mahalo nui loa,
Gwen Sinclair
Sierra Club, O’ahu Group Outings Committee
NEW CLUB AUTHOR
Club member Irwin "Win" Rosa has just published HAWAII WILD: ADVENTURING IN RAINBOW ISLES, a book on adventure travel in Hawaii, by trail, kayak, jeep and boat. He has sent a copy to Deetsie Chave for addition to the clubhouse library. For details and information on how to order, check the web at www.hawaiiwild.com or phone
559/431-6424, or e-mail winrosa@mediaone.net.
CLUBHOUSE NEWS
Grant Oka
The Clubhouse Committee has been revived! Any interested members are welcomed and encouraged to get involved in managing our Clubhouse Affairs. Call the Clubhouse for more information.
HTMC is fortunate to have two talented member volunteers serving as Clubhouse Residents. They are Thea Ferentinos and Greg Santos. These members provide some security, general housekeeping, and help manage Clubhouse affairs. Remember though, Clubhouse users are responsible for leaving the Clubhouse in as good and as clean a condition as they found it (or better condition!). Last quarter’s NEWSLETTER provided information on using and reserving the Clubhouse for member-sponsored functions. For large functions, place your reservation request at least a month or more in advance to allow enough time for approval by the Board of Directors.
Recent break-ins at our beloved Clubhouse have resulted in the loss of some treasured photos. Money-wise, the Clubhouse articles have little value but the memories and sentiment that they represent are priceless. Alex, HTMC’stireless property manager, has placed combination locks on the outside gates, as well as on the Clubhouse doors. These locks were generously donated by Greg Santos. Other security measures are planned, and hopefully, increased member involvement and donations will put some of these measures in place. For members who plan to use the Clubhouse for the day, please call Thea or Greg, our Clubhouse residents, for the combination numbers.
The condition of our beloved but old and failing Clubhouse is getting to the point where it’s necessary to begin advanced planning for major repairs or its replacement. Get involved now to help determine the future of HTMC’s Clubhouse. The Clubhouse and Property Management Committees have started discussions on visions for the future HTMC Clubhouse and options for maintaining the current Clubhouse. An ad hoc committee is planning for a major overhaul or replacement of the clubhouse and will present their findings at the HTMC annual meeting. Get involved! The Clubhouse Committee and Property Management Committee can use a few good hikers. Call any of the following: Grant and Joyce at 674-1459, Jay at 262-9596, Thea, Greg, or Alex at the Clubhouse 259-5443.
CLUBHOUSE NEEDS
Alex Broadfoot
Please don’t forget to call the Clubhouse for the combination for the new gate locks.
The Clubhouse needs the following new or used donations; 1) complete twin bed, 2) twin or single mattress, 3) bicycle, 4) fans—all types. Please phone me at 945--3973 if you can help us with any of these items.
Mahalo to Ralph Valentino, Dusty Klein, and Justin Ohara for much appreciated items. A special mahalo to Henry Davis who donated, among many other things, $130 for a new lawnmower. A special mahalo to Greg Ruff, whose $86 donation is intended for Clubhouse electrical upgrading.
JAY FELDMAN’S RULES OF HIKING
Always carry your whistle on a hike so you can loan it to a hiking buddy who has gotten lost. Needless to say, if you get lost no one will lend you theirs.
Always carry a spare pair of boots in your car trunk. By doing so you will have a replacement pair in the vicinity when your boots self-destruct two hours into the hike.
Invest in Duct Tape stock. Like toilet paper it is endlessly useful and best used only once. However, they are not interchangeable.
If you always secure your hat with a string or clip the wind will never flip it off and across some valley. Of course you will always look like a jerk who has to tie his hat on.
NEWS FLASH - RENEGADE HIKERS SPOTTED!
The rumors are true. Renegade hikers have been participating in our outings! It gets even worse. Some of them are actually members of the club! The hiking community has been reeling in stunned disbelief at the reports of their activities. They have been deviating from the prescribed route of the hike without even asking the coordinator!
But seriously, folks, this can jeopardize the integrity of the outing, cause unnecessary worries for the coordinator, and could endanger the safety of the participants. The coordinator should know the route that the participants are taking, in case there is Trouble. A malihini may see someone venturing off and decide to follow him without knowing what lies ahead, to his peril. A request to the coordinator regarding alternate routes is only common courtesy. We value and admire exploration, but it is something that generally should not be done during a club outing. Mahalo for your kokua.
E-MAIL DATA BASE
Justin Ohara
I am compiling a list of e-mail addresses of club members for our records and to include on the new membership roster. If you have an e-mail address, please share it with the club by sending an e-mail to
COME PLAY VOLLEYBALL
For many years,some club members, along with occasional guests,have been playing volleyball on Saturday afternoons, rain or shine, at the clubhouse court. There is no league atmosphere, and play is most informal. Any adult with some volleyball experience is welcome, but do note that we play Men’s Rules, which means that spiking at the net is allowed. All club members and their volleyball-playing friends are welcome. Members are free, but all "on grounds" guests are $2 per visit, as you know. We officially begin at 3 PM, but it is sometimes 3:30 befoe we get under way. No reservations are needed. Most players wear some sort of footwear, as there is a variety of foreign objects buried in our sand. Any questions, please call Jack Telaneus at 395-3315, evenings are best. SEE YOU THERE!
ALONG THE TRAIL
ALONG THE TRAIL is a quarterly publication of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club designed to inform the membership of club activities and matters of interest to the hiking community. HTMC members and any other interested parties are welcome to submit articles to ALONG THE TRAIL. Submissions must be received by the 5th day of March, June, September, and December in order to appear in the newsletter published for that quarter, and may be sent in any of the following ways (email preferred):
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
HTMC members and any other interested parties are welcome to submit articles to ALONG THE TRAIL, the HTMC Newsletter. Submissions may be sent in any of the following ways (E-Mail preferred):
E-Mail: Richard27@prodigy.net
Computer diskette: MS/DOS [3.5"]
FAX: 293-2603
Phone: 293-2554
Mail: Richard McMahon
57-531 Kamehameha Hwy
Kahuku, HI 96731-2128
Bookmark The HTMC Web Page http://www.geocities.com/~htmc - or -
http://htmc.u4l.com- or -
http://www.webalias.com/htmc/
Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club
P.O. Box 2238
Honolulu, HI 96804
Clubhouse: 41-023 Puuone St
Waimanalo, HI 96795
Phone: 259-5443
Comments may be sent to HTMC Newsletter Editor
or HTMCThis free home page is hosted by www.geocities.com