Last
weekend another Peace Corps Response friend and I had the opportunity to visit yet
another waterfall (I would have to live here for much longer than a year, I
think, to see them all). Our guides were
the same two World Teach teachers at PICS who were gracious enough to include
me on a previous hike. I was glad to get
in one more trek with them before they leave the island in a couple of weeks. This, they say, is their favorite hike. I can see why.
Lehnpaipohn Waterfall is located in Kitti, which is the municipality in the southwest quadrant of the island. It took us 45 minutes or so to drive from Kolonia to the access road, which runs out of pavement in about a third of a mile. From there you hike a mile and a half on a muddy jeep track. When the jeep track petered out, we headed along a foot path for another half mile or so, downhill to a river. This was the most interesting part of the hike—a narrow path through thick jungle. We forded a small stream, and once we got close enough to hear the river, the trail got noticeably steeper. The guidebook says, “The final descent to the pool is exposed and a bit sketchy.” I would agree with that—some steep rock ledges to negotiate to get down to the water.
The waterfall is not high, but the pool it creates at the base of the falls is large and impressive. One would be hard-pressed to find a nicer swimming hole. The day was perfect—not oppressively hot—just hot—and the water was cool. A nice combination. AJ (our friend and guide) did a pretty impressive jump from the cliffs above into the pool. We all enjoyed the opportunity to sit and enjoy the setting before heading back.
Our timing was perfect for a hike as the ground was littered with fresh mangoes that had just dropped from the trees. You can easily peel the skin off with your fingers and eat the pulp from around a large flat oblong pit. The fruit is very juicy, but fibrous. The result is juice dripping down your chin and strings caught between your teeth. Delicious!
Pohnpei has some challenges to overcome before it becomes a world-renowned eco-tourism destination, not the least of which is distance—it is not easy to get here. But, there is a small band of folks on the island who would like to see that happen. If interested, check out the website www.pohnpei-adventure.com. There is a lot more that I hope to see and do.
Lehnpaipohn Waterfall is located in Kitti, which is the municipality in the southwest quadrant of the island. It took us 45 minutes or so to drive from Kolonia to the access road, which runs out of pavement in about a third of a mile. From there you hike a mile and a half on a muddy jeep track. When the jeep track petered out, we headed along a foot path for another half mile or so, downhill to a river. This was the most interesting part of the hike—a narrow path through thick jungle. We forded a small stream, and once we got close enough to hear the river, the trail got noticeably steeper. The guidebook says, “The final descent to the pool is exposed and a bit sketchy.” I would agree with that—some steep rock ledges to negotiate to get down to the water.
The waterfall is not high, but the pool it creates at the base of the falls is large and impressive. One would be hard-pressed to find a nicer swimming hole. The day was perfect—not oppressively hot—just hot—and the water was cool. A nice combination. AJ (our friend and guide) did a pretty impressive jump from the cliffs above into the pool. We all enjoyed the opportunity to sit and enjoy the setting before heading back.
Our timing was perfect for a hike as the ground was littered with fresh mangoes that had just dropped from the trees. You can easily peel the skin off with your fingers and eat the pulp from around a large flat oblong pit. The fruit is very juicy, but fibrous. The result is juice dripping down your chin and strings caught between your teeth. Delicious!
Pohnpei has some challenges to overcome before it becomes a world-renowned eco-tourism destination, not the least of which is distance—it is not easy to get here. But, there is a small band of folks on the island who would like to see that happen. If interested, check out the website www.pohnpei-adventure.com. There is a lot more that I hope to see and do.
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| AJ and Kathryn, originally from Buffalo, NY |
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| Friend John, another Peace Corps Response Volunteer |
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| Two palm ivory nuts found along the trail |
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