Michael was the first to reach the top. I tried to follow in his steps but it was to steep for me and I couldn't find anything to hold on to. How the hell did he get up there? We yelled up at him to break out his rope which he did. He tied it off and after 3 attempts threw it right to me. The slope in front of me was at least a 45 to 50 degree slope. I pulled myself up, my life was in the strength of the rope and my arms. There was a lot of vegetation in front of me. I had to stop placing my feet up against the trunk of a sturdy Christmas Berry tree and clear the branches. Then it was up a few more feet and finding another sturdy trunk to keep my feet from slipping I cut more Christmas Berry. I had to do this maneuver about 6 times to reach the summit. I figure i used about 70' of the 100' of rope Michael threw down. At the summit I took this panorama looking toward the center of the island, that's Pu`u Kalena on the left, while Jean began her climb. She and Dan would have it easier after my clearing.
Jean made it to the top safely and immediately took a well earned break.
