camping

Nan Kiepw & Na Malek

Nan Kiepw

Nan Kiepw, which means “in the lilies,” is a hillside overshadowed by Dolmweir peak. A Pohnpeian myth tells of a Yapese magician, named Sou Iap, who voyaged to Pohnpei and was responsible for the creation of Sokehs Rock). One of Sou Iap‘s companions, Souliken And, noticed a girl collecting clams on a reef north of Sokehs Island, and thinking her very attractive, chased her deep into Nett, carrying an ihd leaf with him. On the hillside below Dolmweir peak, Souliken And lost his leaf and named the place after a species of white lily he saw there.

During the Sokehs Rebellion in 1910, Pohnpeian rebels fleeing from German and Melanesian troops briefly took refuge at Nan Kiepw, rebuilding some earthen fortifications from the Spanish Period and repelling a small attack.

Today, Nan Kiepw maintains a pristine beauty that betrays no sign of past violence. A tributary of the Nanipil River (Pillapen Nanipil) runs through the area, forming a wide gentle cascade, some small pools (though none big enough for swimming), and a “horsetail” waterfall before winding into the valley. Upstream is a basalt outcropping — really a great boulder — that forms an overhang where a few people can comfortably camp out of wind and rain. Huge ivory nut trees, red sandlewood, and a variety of hardwoods dominate the lush native forest, and there are many unusual varieties of fungi to be seen.

The Origin of the Ivory Nut Palm

On the fourth voyage to Pohnpei after its founding, a man came named Mederiap, bringing with him the ivory nut palm and propagating it on the island. Prior to this time people had mostly lived in caves, because they had nothing to use for roofing material, but ever afterward, the fronds of the ivory nut palm were woven together to produce roof thatch for houses.

The moderately challenging trail begins behind a house near the Nett hydroelectic building at the end of the Nanipil River Road (the same trailhead for Nahnalaud). Hikers cross the Nanipil River directly and walk along a well-maintained footpath for 0.99 km / 0.61 mi (5% slope avg) before coming to the first major branch. The left (east) branch leads on toward Nahnalaud, while the right (west) branch heads to Nan Kiepw. From this point it’s 1.4 km / 0.87 mi (14% slope avg) to the last residence along the trail at 265 meters of elevation, and then another 1.8 km (1.12 mi) to the waterfall. This last segment has two little ascents with slope averages of about 20% and 26% and a more moderate bit in between (11% slope avg). Sakau (kava) plantations are found on both sides of the trail much of the way. Hikers should take care to avoid damaging these valuable plants.

Adenanthera pavonina (Red Sandlewood), Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

Crab’s Eye Vs. Red Sandlewood: What to Know and Why it Matters

Two species of trees found both in inhabited areas and in the upland forests of Pohnpei produce small brilliant red seeds about the size of popcorn kernels. These can be seen scattered across the forest floor and often on the trail leading to Nan Kiepw. Red seeds with a single black dot on them belong to Abrus precatorius (Crab’s Eye Seed or John Crow Bead), while solid red seeds come from Adenanthera pavonina (Red sandlewood). The first type of seed (with the black dot) contains a compound, called abrin, that is 75 times more toxic than ricin and can be fatal if ingested; the fatal dose is about 0.1 mg for an adult of roughly 68 kg (150 lbs). Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, liver failure, and death after several days. The second type of seed (all red) is harmless when cooked and is sometimes eaten as a snack by Pohnpeian children. Strangely, the same Pohnpeian name — kaikes — is used to identify the two species of trees. Both Abrus precatorius and Adenanthera pavonina originate on the Indian subcontinent. Seeds are sometimes used to make necklaces and other jewelry.

Na Malek

Na Malek (“his chickens”) is a rock overhang and cave — located in the part of upland Nett once known as Nansokele — said in myth to have been the home of the demon Taimuan. The site, which has excellent views of the valley, Dolen Eirike, and Dol Rakied, is reached via a steep loop of path (0.61 km / 0.38 mi with a 42% slope average) that branches off from the Nan Kiepw trail. The overhang is large enough to provide a protected camping spot, and the elevated cave is bone-dry, flat-floored, and suitable for sleeping. Water running off the rock can be filtered for drinking. This is a relaxing and beautiful place to watch birds, including the Grey White-eye and rare Long-billed White-eye.

Plan for 8 hours for both Nan Kiepw and Na Malek.
Please visit the Local Guides & Tour Operators page for a list of experienced guides available for hikes to Nan Kiepw. Offer $50.00 for a group of five or less.

The Tale of Taimuan

A well-known Pohnpeian myth states that Na Malek was the the home of a hideous old demon, named Taimuan, and his sister, Litapinmalekelek. Taimuan had a hankering for human flesh and was, in particular, interested in the beautiful daughter of the Saudeleur — the supreme ruler that reigned from Nan Madol. Deciding that he wished to devour the girl, Taimuan set out for Nan Madol, transforming himself into a handsome young man along the way and leaving his old parts at different points in the mangroves — his white hair, swollen legs, swollen testicles, sagging eyelids, etc. When Taimuan arrived at Nan Madol and presented himself to the Saudeleur, both the girl — who was called Kisin Ntamwahu (“a little bit of good blood”) — and her father were impressed with the young suitor. Kisin Ntamwahu fell for Taimuan and begged her father to let them marry. Soon the two were married and given a home on Pahn Kadira.

After residing at Pahn Kadira for a while, however, Taimuan obtained permission from the Saudeleur to take Kisin Ntamwahu back to Na Malek. On the way, he picked up all his old parts from the mangroves and was restored to his prior appearance. Kisin Ntamwahu realized she had been tricked, but Taimuan carried her away against her will and confined the girl inside the cave at Na Malek. Then he climbed to the top of the mountains to invite all the other demons in the area to join him in feasting on the girl. While he was away, his sister, Litapinmalekelek, discovered Kisin Ntamwahu and felt sorry for her. She began to dig the girl out of her prison and encouraged Kisin Ntamwahu to turn herself into an ant, in order to escape, and flee into the forest. She warned the girl not to pass any plants without greeting them politely. As Kisin Ntamwahu ran, she greeted all the plants, big and small. All except one. Feeling a sudden need to urinate, she relieved herself in the forest and didn’t realize she’d done so on a plant called kampanial.

When Taimuan found that Kisin Ntamwahu was gone, he confronted Litapinmalekelek, but she claimed to know nothing. In a rage, Taimuan showered his sister with obscenities (specifically, he shouted, “Your vagina! My penis!” — a highly offensive reference to an act of incest) and then took off into the forest to catch Kisin Ntamwahu. He questioned each plant he passed, but none would tell him anything until he came upon the kampanial, which told Taimuan which way Kisin Ntamwahu had gone. Shortly thereafter, Taimuan met two worms on the path. He asked them where the girl had gone and they promised they would tell him if he pulled down his eyelids. He did so, and the worms threw dirt in his eyes. When Taimuan tried to wash his eyes out in a nearby streamlet, the worms muddied the water upstream, causing him to go blind and eventually die.

Please visit the Local Guides & Tour Operators page for a list of experienced guides available for hikes to Nan Kiepw.

Map Guides >> Nett & Western U >> Nan Kiepw & Na Malek

By pni-surfclubPosted on March 4, 2013September 2, 2019Posted in birding, camping, caves, greater nett, hiking & trekking, waterfallsTagged birding, camping, caves, fsm, hiking, kiepw waterfall, micronesia, na malek, na malek cave, nan kiepw, nett, oceania, pacific, pohnpei, ponape, taimuan, trails, waterfalls

Lou Rahn Cave & Waterfall

Tucked away in the little-seen Nett hinterlands is one of Pohnpei’s most beautiful hiking destinations. Uluhlen Lou Rahn, a fence-like ridge, extends northwest from the place where the mountains of U meet those of Nett, hiding from view the verdant valley of the Pwong Stream (Pilen Pwong). Cutting through this gorge from its source below Dolen Nahnsapwe, the stream spills over a high cliff to form a thundering waterfall next to a large cave with a view of the misty valley floor. Though there is no quick way down to the bottom of the waterfall from the cave (you can backtrack a ways and make your way down the slope to the stream), there is a gorgeous pool for swimming just up-stream with cool, crystal-clear water.

The trail to the site begins off the unpaved but well-graded road in Paremkep and sees plenty of traffic from sakau farmers and residents on the first 0.6 km (0.37 mi) leading toward the spur (12% slope avg). Once it reaches the ridge, it cuts east and passes along Lou Rahn’s inside slope rather than following the ridgeline (0.92 km / 0.57 mi, 19% slope avg). The hardest aspect of this full-day hike is the treacherous footing, as much of the last leg of the route crosses the sharp, jumbled rocks of old landslides now obscured by high grass. Take care and watch each step; a fall into one of the hidden crevices could result in a serious sprain or fracture — not a good thing to have way out in the forest on Pohnpei. There are also a great many sakau (kava) plants in the area — a massive number, in fact — which hikers must take care to avoid damaging. The roots of the plant are used to make Pohnpei’s potent ceremonial drink. Large plants can be twenty years old or more. Small huts, which farmers use while working on their plants, are passed at several places along the route.

The cave sits just to one side of the falls with a stunning view of the hidden valley. The roof is a bit low in places, but it’s quite a fair size none the less. Though a thin stream of water flows across one side of the cave floor, the rest is dry and makes an excellent camping location. Hunters often use it, and you may notice their cooking pots stored in crevices at the rear of the cave.

Plan for 6-8 hours for this hike.
Please visit the Local Guides & Tour Operators page for a list of experienced guides available for hikes to Lou Rahn. Offer $37-50.00 for a group of five or less.

Map Guides >> Nett & Western U >> Lou Rahn Cave & Waterfall

By pni-surfclubPosted on March 3, 2013September 2, 2019Posted in birding, camping, caves, greater nett, hiking & trekking, waterfallsTagged birding, caves, fsm, hiking, islands, lou rahn, micronesia, mountains, nett, oceania, pacific, pohnpei, ponape, rainforest, trails, waterfalls

Liduduhniap Waterfall, Nanipil & Nan Madap Attractions

Liduduhniap Waterfalls

The easiest waterfalls to visit on Pohnpei (no hiking required) are the tiered “horse-tail” falls, Liduhduhniap, just a few kilometers from Kolonia. When the Greater Nett Eco-Adventure Guide was published in 2015, we wrote of Liduduhniap:

“Some might consider accessibility to be a red flag and assume that a location so close to town would be completely spoiled by a constant flow of visitors and thoughtless development. That’s not the case here.”

Unfortunately, things have changed recently (2017). Under the direction of Pohnpei’s new tourism department, the landowners at Liduduhniap have chosen to severely undermine the natural integrity of the site by replacing the dirt path to the lower falls with an unsightly series of concrete steps and a concrete hut near the edge of the pool. Toilets have also been built on the site. For those of us who knew the place before this “development”, it will never be quite the same again, but Liduduhniap is still a beautiful spot — not just the two waterfalls themselves, but the greater area, which is lush, rugged, and often partially enshrouded in thick mists that drift down from the steep mountains. The population around the site is relatively sparse, and it is hoped that most of the land will remain as it has for decades — green and wild.

The Liduduhniap Waterfalls lie on a portion of the Nanipil River (Pillapen Nanipil) located right at the feet of the mountains and fed by a great deal of rain (the primary dam and reservoir that supplies the town with water is just a bit upstream). The upper falls cascades 4 meters (13 ft) into a deep basalt plunge pool with a jaw-dropping elevated view of the river valley and the slopes of the mountains. From there it spills over the lip and plummets another 8 meters or so (26 ft) into a larger, but shallower pool. Swimming is excellent at both pools, though the first is more difficult to get in and out of. Most people simply opt to take a flying leap off the rocks, but you can also carefully cross the river above the falls and climb down to the pool from the far side without too much trouble (go barefoot or wear five-fingers to avoid losing your flip-flops in the swampy sections). The water is crystal clear — except immediately after heavy rains — and always on the chilly side, making it a great escape for oppressively hot and humid Pohnpei days. The deep, narrow valley funnels air along so that there’s always a bit of a breeze, too, which keeps the ferns waving hypnotically and the temps down. No one is quite sure how deep the upper pool is, but it’s deep — deeper than you’ll ever sink after a jump. However, one must still take care to scan the water before leaping; flash floods sometimes wash tree trunks and other debris down from the mountains and these can become wedged in the pool below the surface. Depending on how high the river is, you may be able to swim up and get behind the falls, where there’s a small depression in the rock. There’s also a large cavern on the eastern side of the pool. The lower pool is too shallow for jumping.

The well-manicured and landscaped gravel trail to the site begins left of a large nahs (community hut) near the unpaved road and opposite the landowners’ house, meandering past blossoming hibiscus shrubs, plumeria trees, and ginger until it reaches a couple of ramshackle huts above the river. These make nice spots for a picnic lunch, while in the evenings the family uses them for pounding and drinking Pohnpei’s dizzying ceremonial drink, sakau (kava). Turn right by the huts and scramble down to the river to visit the upper falls. Note the mortar holes on the north side of the pool rim, where sakau was pounded in ancient times. To reach the lower pool and waterfall, continue along the main trail and down a series of concrete steps. The family charges an access fee of $1.00 per person to visit the falls. Occasionally they may ask you for $5.00 if it looks like you plan to take a lot of photos of the site.

Be advised that there have been many injuries and several fatalities at Liduduhniap! The spot is extremely prone to flash floods. In 1999, two Pohnpeians were swept away by a flash flood and carried over both falls to their deaths. In 2002, three visiting Palauan athletes were also killed by a flash flood; there’s a monument to them next to the trailhead. Danger from slips and falls is another issue. In 2012, an American educational volunteer fell to her death from the upper falls, which prompted the landowners to install a dodgy rope ladder on one side of the upper pool. Read the Safety Considerations in the right column and BE CAREFUL.

Plan for 30 min – 2 hours to enjoy the waterfalls.

Upper Nanipil Bird Walk

If you continue up the road from Liduduhniap, you’ll soon pass the dam and reservoir on the left. Just beyond this, also on the left, a footpath leads into the forest and runs through the woods above the stream for 1.1 km (0.68 mi). Among birders, this scenic walk is second only to Sokehs Mountain in terms of the variety and prevalence of species that can be seen. It’s easy to get to and doesn’t require any huffing and puffing, and the forests are rich and unspoiled and full of birds. There are no houses along the trail, which means that traffic and noise are at a minimum. You can see many species on the walk, but highlights include the Pohnpei Cicadabird (Coracina insperata), Pohnpei Fantail (Rhipidura kubaryi), Pohnpei Flycatcher (Myiagra pluto), and Crimson-Crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus). We suggest you hire a local birding guide and bring a pair of binoculars. Stick to the path to avoid damaging this pristine watershed.

Plan for 2-3 hours for this walk.
Visit our Birding page to learn how to find birding guides.

Sengnaip Waterfall

This little-known two-tiered waterfall is located about 400 m (0.25 mi) south of the Nanipil Bird Walk described above. If you cut off the path and continue down the slope for about 170 m (186 yd), you’ll hit the main stream, which you can follow up for another 144 m (157 yd). At this point, you reach a large basalt pool that narrows on the far side and disappears into a rocky slot. You can get a great view and wonderful pictures of the falls from the rocks on the east side of the pool, but there’s no easy way to go further without swimming. If you do the latter, you’ll end up in a small plunge pool enclosed on three sides by high rock walls. There’s a cave just above the water level on the east side. The spot is unbelievably peaceful and has been seen by very few people. Treat it with utmost respect.

Like Liduduhniap downstream, this location has extreme flash flood potential. Read the Safety Considerations in the right column.

Plan for 2-3 hours for this excursion.
Visit our Guides & Tour Operators page for a list of guides who can be hired for this hike.

Likei & Pahn Pwet Waterfalls

If you hire a knowledgeable guide and continue hiking south at the conclusion of the Nanipil Bird Walk (where the trail crosses a stream on a large log), you’ll soon strike the main river again. The route stays with the watercourse for 1.5 km (0.93 mi) with very gentle elevation gain (4% slope avg). At the end of this segment, the river is joined by another stream coming from the southeast. Following either course for about a third of a kilometer will lead you to a waterfall. The western route continues 0.37 km (0.23 mi) up a slope, where the hike steepens to about a 25% slope average before coming to Likei Waterfall. The eastern course leads 0.23 km (0.14 mi) with a 18% slope average to Pahn Pwet Waterfall. The two waterfalls are quite dramatic and little-known both by visitors and by local people. This area, called Nan Madap, is actually disputed territory; both Sokehs and Kitti claim it, though the municipal boundaries as they are typically drawn seem to place the location within Sokehs.

Plan for 5-7 hours for this hike.
Visit our Guides & Tour Operators page for a list of guides who can be hired for this hike.

Nan Kiepw Waterfall

Also with a local guide, a third falls can be accessed from a completely different route, beginning just west of the community hut by the Liduduhniap trailhead. This hike climbs up the mountain slopes fairly steadily for 3 km (1.86 mi). The first two thirds of the distance is relatively easy with a slope average of about 12%, but then the slope steepens considerably to about 41%. Nan Kiepw Waterfall is high up at about 500 meters of elevation (it may be one of the highest falls on the island), just below the summit of Dolen Nanikep and off the east side of the trail. Sometimes you can see this falls from the lagoon after heavy rain.

Serious trekkers have the option of continuing past the waterfall, up to Dolen Kiepw (610 m), and on to Dolmweir (735 m), where a thatched shelter was built for hikers in 2013 (note that the roof of the hut was already deteriorating when we visited only six months or so after it was constructed). This is an admittedly tough hike with slopes ranging from 25% to 40% and very rough terrain. The shelter is 1.5 km (0.93 mi) beyond Nan Kiepw falls. From the shelter, trails run west to Pekenuht (705 m) and down into Pehleng or east to Nahnalaud (772 m).

Plan for 5-7 hours for this hike.
Visit our Guides & Tour Operators page for a list of guides who can be hired for this hike.

Nanipil River Swimming Holes

“Cable Bridge Hole”

This is by far the most popular swimming spot on the Nanipil River located 4 km (2.5 mi) from downtown Kolonia, where the watercourse turns sharply away from the Nanipil River Road and forms two deep, placid pools. There used to be a cable footbridge that crossed this portion of the stream, but now all that remains are a couple rusting cables strung high above the water. The water at the site is clean and quite cool — an excellent place to freshen up on a sweltering afternoon. Avoid the site, however, during or immediately after heavy rain, as the water gets muddy from all the sediment washing into the valley upstream. Cars can be parked on the opposite side of the road.

“The Swimming Pond”

This is a favorite with young kids in the area, located 5.3 km (3.3 mi) from downtown Kolonia. A short walk from the Nanipil River Road leads to a long, deep pool with a steep slope on the far bank. Rope swings are often strung up on both sides of the pool, and there are some grassy spots to picnic and a tiny hut or two. The landowners, who live in a house on the side of the road opposite the trailhead, charge visitors $1.00 per person.

Flash floods are an issue at both sites, due to Nanipil Valley’s narrowness and the volume of rain that can fall in a short period of time in the steep mountains to the rear. Be wary.

Map Guides >> Nett & Western U >> Liduduhniap Waterfall, Nanipil & Nan Madap Attractions

By pni-surfclubPosted on March 2, 2013September 2, 2019Posted in birding, camping, greater nett, hiking & trekking, swimming & picnicking, waterfallsTagged birding, fsm, islands, lewi bird walk, liduduhniap waterfalls, likei waterfall, micronesia, nan kiewp waterfall, nan madap, nanipil, nanipil bird walk, oceania, pacific, pahn pwet waterfall, pohnpei, ponape, sengnaip waterfalls, waterfalls

Dolen Nett / Pohnlehr

Dolen Nett (“hill of Nett”) is a steep-sided mountain running the length of the Nett Point peninsula. Leaf-shaped, this peninsula juts north into the lagoon east of Kolonia and is said, in myth, to have been formed by the corpse of the same monster eel that founded the Lasialap clan, created Lipwentiak, and lived in the Lehdau River for many years. When the creature finally died, her carcass became Dolen Nett.

Like Sokehs Mountain, Dolen Nett is mostly flat on top, as if the peak was sliced off. From town, this plateau — known as Pohn Dolen Nett (“on the hill of Nett“) — looks like a manicured lawn, which has inspired the mistaken belief that it was once used as an airfield by the Japanese. In truth, there were only three Japanese airstrips on Pohnpei: one at Nanpohnmal, one in Palikir that never became fully operational, and the seaplane base on Lenger Island. There are hardwood forests around the edges of the plateau, but the central landscape of Pohn Dolen Nett is nearly treeless. Most of this open terrain consists of very resistant, and in many places, shoulder-high paddle grass and Dicranopteris ferns with swampy mires and sections of jagged basalt scattered throughout. It should be noted that the aforementioned ferns can be brutal on bare legs if you’re forcing your way through them for any length of time. That’s cat o’ nine tails brutal. Flay the flesh right off your shinbones brutal. We learned the hard way once, while mapping the location. One humble suggestion: hike in pants. Heat-stroke, too, can be an issue on the hill; with so little tree-cover, sunny days are blistering.

Japanese World War II Sites

As is true of all the high points around Pohnpei’s coasts, the Japanese fortified Dolen Nett in the late 1930s, anticipating an eventual attack by Allied forces (which came in the form of intense bombing raids rather than the expected surface-based assault). The most interesting war features are grouped together at the southern end near the true summit (an area called Pohnlehr) and include some steel drums, the barrel of a disassembled 75 mm canon lying in the woods, rock walls, two stone machine gun pillboxes, and a concrete and steel bunker that houses a second 75 mm gun in situ. To access the latter, which has excellent views of the bay between Nett and Awak, you have to move along a precipice, often partially or completely obscured by high grass. Let your guide go first to clear a path — unless you want to find yourself plummeting through empty space. The bunker itself can be entered, but it’s a bit of a grubby venture as the roof has partially collapsed and is now supported by the breech of the gun itself.

The other major site on the south side is a mobile radar array that sits on a low stone platform in the woods about 126 meters (138 yd) northwest of the gun bunker. The radar was mounted on a rotating turret in the center of a truck chassis (still intact) and the operator turned a wheel to position it. There are some large depressions in the surrounding forests that may be bomb craters, but none of the major features on the hill appear to have sustained direct damage from the bombing runs. More likely, these posts were simply abandoned, as they would not have been very effective against an aerial attack.

The woods pick up again on the north end of the mountain, and here, also, are some Japanese military features, including a large network of narrow defensive trenches, a few stone rifle pits, and machine gun emplacements.

Featured Routes

There are many ways to get to the top of Dolen Nett. We have covered four routes on the Greater Nett & Western U Eco-Adventure Map.

(1) The most practical route starts behind a house next to the road in Weipowe 1.2 km (0.75 mi) south of the Nett Point turn-off. Just ask at the houses on the inland side of the road for guides. The trail is well-maintained as far as the family’s private sakau (kava) and yam plantations on the slope. The steepest bit of the climb is at the beginning — 0.4 km / 0.26 mi, 33% slope avg. Near the top of the ridge, the trail passes the entrance to a long Japanese tunnel, well worth exploring — but bring a headlamp. From there, it continues up the forested slope and eventually comes to the open fern meadows, called nanmal (0.4 km / 0.3 mi, 22% slope avg).

(2) Another trail begins 0.6 km (0.37 mi) south of Trailhead 1 (look for a narrow concrete driveway next to a giant mango tree). This may have been the primary Japanese trail, but it is now difficult to follow above the point where farmers plant their sakau. About 0.56 km (0.35 mi) along (26% slope avg), the trail collides with an impassable basalt wall over which a thin waterfall can form after heavy rain. Here the trail turns south and continues about 0.29 km (0.18 mi) with a 17% slope avg, running parallel to the wall until it ends. Then it begins to climb again, briefly emerges in a small meadow, passes through some light forest, and emerges again at a rare grove of coconut palms (185 m / 202 yd).

(3) A third route begins at the edge of the road in Paliais 0.7 km (0.43 mi) north of the Dausokele Bridge. The route is about 0.7 km (0.43 mi) to the top with a 26% slope avg.

(4) The fourth route starts on the edge of the road 1 km (0.62 mi) south of the Nett Point turn-off. It climbs fairly straight 0.27 km (0.17 mi) with an 18% slope avg up to the ridge, which is much lower here. It then turns south and follows the ridge 0.43 km (0.27 mi) until it connects with Route 1 at the Japanese tunnel entrance.

Pohnpei Short-Eared Owl

The lonely meadows and forests on the mountaintop are prime habitat for Pohnpei’s shy short-eared owl, Asio flammeus. This species has been pushed up to the mountainsides by building projects — such as the State Hospital — which destroyed its native grasslands habitat. Late afternoon is a good time to look for the large bird rising from its hidden abode as it sweeps out to hunt (we spotted it on three out of five trips).

There are many fine places to camp on Dolen Nett. The nanmal is excellent on clear nights, where you can gaze both on the star field above and the twinkling lights of Kolonia below. If you want more cover or perhaps some trees to tie a tarp or hammock to, try the forests at the southern end. Bring plenty of water — none is found on the mountaintop — and take everything you brought with you when you leave. A good campsite is one that leaves no trace.

Plan for 6-8 hours for this hike, if you want to see all the WWII features.
Please visit the Local Guides & Tour Operators page for a list of experienced guides available for hikes to Dolen Nett. Offer $37-50.00 for a group of five or less.

The Story of the Eel of Pahdol

A long time ago, a couple from Wene came to live in a place called Iro. One day there was a great storm and the heavy rains resulted in a huge flood. Two women in the area went out to fish in the flood, and while they were fishing, a starling flew over and dropped a small stone. The women took the stone home and gave it to the couple from Wene. Later, at a place called Pahnkipar (“under the pandanus tree”), the stone broke apart and from it was hatched a tiny freshwater eel. The couple kept the eel as their pet and allowed it to live in a pool at Pahdol (“under the hill”) in Pahnais. When the eel grew up, however, it began to act in sinister ways. At night, the eel would escape from its pool and sneak into the house, where it would stare at the sleeping couple. The couple became uncomfortable and decided to kill and eat the eel, but the eel overheard their plan, came into the house, and attacked them. The couple fled into the forest and hid under a huge rock, where they believed they’d be safe. The eel discovered the hiding place and ambushed the couple, devouring them alive.

The eel then traveled into the Nanmeir Valley in Pohnpei’s interior and followed the Lehnmesi River source. There she met Kiroun Meir, a high-titled man, who brought her to live with him at his home. The two became lovers and the eel was impregnated. She was restless, however, and departed, continuing to follow the river. At Lipwentiak, the eel encountered a hunter named Kiroun Mand, killing and eating eels. Recoiling at this sight, she created a sharp turn in the river with the writhing of her body. Soon after, she gave birth to her first daughter, the matriarch of the Sounlipwentiak subclan. She had other children later who became the founders of the Lasiadohng (“eels of the dohng tree”) and Lasiakotop (“eels of the kotop palm”) subclans. After that, the eel went to live in Dauen Sapwalap, where she terrorized the local inhabitants, devouring so many that the land became mostly deserted. When the monster finally died, her body formed Dolen Nett.

Map Guides >> Nett & Western U >> Dolen Nett

By pni-surfclubPosted on March 1, 2013September 2, 2019Posted in birding, camping, greater nett, hiking & trekking, historical sites, world war sitesTagged birding, dolen nett, fsm, guns, hiking, historical sites, islands, micronesia, mountains, oceania, pacific, pohn dolen nett, pohnlehr, pohnpei, ponape, trails, world war sites

Sokehs Rock

Paipalap, or Sokehs Rock, is without question the most striking feature of Pohnpei’s topography. Over 100 vertical meters (328 ft) of exposed basalt form the upper portion of a gigantic volcanic plug that juts from the north end of Sokehs Mountain and looms over Pohnpei’s harbor and only town, Kolonia. An unmarked trail leading to the Rock, “The Spire”, and “The Adam’s Apple” begins south of a brown house 1.2 km (0.74 mi) beyond Mwalok A-1 Store and just before the Danipei Church (ask permission before hiking). The steep path is well-defined with steep cement steps near the bottom and then a level segment with two
large basalt outcroppings and some cave-like formations. Three quarters of the way along, it begins to follow an electrical conduit running to the beacon on the summit (202 m / 663 ft).

Though not a technical climb, the ascent of the Rock itself is sketchy (triple-pitch, 5.6 R unassisted) and should only be attempted on clear, dry days, as the rocks are treacherous when wet. Pitch 1 begins at the
“Tree Cliff” and skirts a 70° face with the assistance of tree roots, fixed ropes (these you can trust), and the electrical conduit. This section is often underestimated and may, in fact, be the most dangerous part of the endeavor. Several people have been injured in falls at this spot. Pitch 2 starts at the rear foot of the main rock and involves a steep climb with some assistance from the conduit. The crux is a 2-meter section where the conduit has corroded and is no help at all. Climbers must rely on natural holds and a narrow crevice. Ropes also hang along the conduit, but do not trust your weight to any of them as they are in various states of deterioration. Pitch 3 is easier, though no less exposed. Most people straddle the conduit and haul themselves up.

Once on level ground, you can pick out the path that winds through scattered patches of wild pineapples, ferns, and a grove of trees that makes an ideal
campsite before ending at the main cliff on the northern end of the Rock. Spectacular views of the lagoon, reef passes, tuna fleets, and northern islands are found at several spots along the cliff face. On clear days, Pakin Atoll is visible to the west, and you may get a glimpse of Pohnpei’s shy — and perhaps threatened — short-eared owl (Asio flammeus).

The Creation of Sokehs Rock

An ancient Pohnpeian legend states that long ago a man traveling near what is now Sokehs Island was overwhelmed by the force of a geyser-like spring which burst up and swept him all the way to a distant island. There he acquired the help of a powerful magician, who conjured a huge stone and plugged up the spring. Ever after, the rock was known as Paipalap, “the great paip (boulder).” In another version of the story, a Yapese sorcerer named Sou Iap was disturbed by the sound of rushing water and voyaged to Pohnpei to investigate. Upon discovering a great fountain on Sokehs Island, Sou Iap blocked the opening with piles of sea sponges.

Trad Climbing on the Face

The north face of Sokehs Rock has considerable trad climbing potential, though it has yet to be fully explored (several climbers have rappelled down and raved about what they saw there). It is, however, quite extreme and under-cut in places. Note that a top-rope would need to be no less than 200 meters (666 ft) in length. Pioneers are welcome!

Map Guides >> Sokehs Island >> Sokehs Rock

By pni-surfclubPosted on January 2, 2013September 1, 2019Posted in birding, camping, hiking & trekking, rock climbing, sokehs islandTagged birding, camping, climbing, fsm, hiking, islands, micronesia, oceania, pacific, paipalap, pohnpei, ponape, rock climbing, sokehs, sokehs island, sokehs rock, trails

Sokehs Mountain

Sokehs Mountain or Pohndollap, which means “on the big hill,” is a long, mostly flat-topped ridge running north-south along the length of Sokehs Island with a knoll-like summit near the middle. The mountain was a refuge for the insurgents of the Sokehs Rebellion and later a key location in the Japanese defense of Pohnpei during World War II. The mountain’s attractions are mostly war-related, though it is also a highly-regarded birding spot.

The hike begins at the end of the paving above the Sokehs Municipal Office and climbs steadily along the rocky Japanese Road (or you can drive to the halfway point). At the top of the mountain, the road turns north next to a terrace on which the Japanese barracks structures originally stood — now the site of a concrete nahs built by the Office of Tourism in the late-2000s. From this point, it’s roughly 0.23 km (0.14 mi) south to the Coastal Battery and 0.78 km (0.48 mi) north to the summit of Dollap (276 m / 906 ft).

Japanese-Era Historical Sites

Command Post & Anti-Aircraft Battery

This site is centered around the Japanese Command Post, from which military operations on the Ridge were directed. There are many structures in the area:

Defensive Trench — This narrow, rock-lined trench has been partially swallowed by a bamboo grove that must have established itself after the war. The trench makes two 90 degree turns around something that is now buried beneath the roots of a massive tree. It’s unclear what the structure was, but electrical cables can still seen coming out of it through the trench wall.

Stone Look-Out — This elevated observation point is found just above the west wall of the Command Post, reached by several concrete steps. From the circular roof-less enclosure at the top, you can look out over Gun #1 and the Command Post foundations.

Personnel Tunnel / Shelter — This L-shaped personnel tunnel is found opposite Gun #1 under what looks like a man-made hill. The tunnel runs southeast and then makes a 90-degree turn before terminating. It’s about 7 meters long in total. The structure was probably intended as a bomb shelter.

Anti-Aircraft Guns — The two guns in the battery are identical: Type 89 12.7 cm twin double-purpose guns, which could pivot 360 degrees on their mounts and also tilt to fire at enemy aircraft overhead. Both guns are surrounded by sloped concrete revetments about 2 meters high with recessed ammunition magazines around the ring (some of which still have large machine springs in them). It took roughly one year for sixteen Pohnpeian laborers to move the guns to the Ridge and install them in their current positions. Gun #1 faces northeast, while Gun #2 points north and is missing its shield. An uncovered shaft lies just to the rear of each of the guns and drops 2 meters into the ground, connecting to a tunnel that housed the gun’s power cables. These shafts are potential hazards, especially when the grass is high. Take special care when walking around the sites to avoid falling into either of the holes!

Command Post Foundations — Only the concrete basement foundations of the Command Post structure exist today. It seems to have been divided into two rooms. There’s a strange tower-like structure at the north side that TTPI archaeologist Duane Denfeld believed was used for target-bearing. The entrance is on the south side. To the left of the entrance under some trees is a flight of concrete stairs that has tipped partially on its side. It probably led up to the Look-Out and was either damaged by a bomb blast or undermined by erosion.

Machine Gun Pillbox — North of Gun #2 is a large pillbox with similar architecture as the coastal battery bunker. A set of stairs leads down to a stone corridor, which turns left into a circular chamber with slit openings on the front. From the outside, the structure is nearly invisible. The pillbox was probably intended for a machine gun, or more than one. As the chamber stays quite dry even during heavy rain, it’s a nice place to camp.

Mysterious Concrete Shaft — Southwest of the pillbox is a circular concrete shaft with a steel rung ladder leading downward. The shaft is currently flooded and its purpose is unclear. We’re still looking for information about this intriguing feature.

Barracks Area

The foundations of barracks, a kitchen, and mess hall are found at the north end of the Coastal Battery trail. The largest concentration of foundations is east of the path, indicating at least three large buildings. Concrete steps are found east of the Coastal Battery trail and south of the main road. A large water tank on a rock platform next to the path probably supplied the kitchen area. An identical tank to the east may have been for a washroom. Foundations extend all the way to the Tourism nahs. A slightly-sloped retaining wall built in the Japanese stone masonry style, called uchikomihagi, (unshaped, fitted stones) frames the terrace on which the foundations lie, running east-west along the main road and then turning south. There’s also an unknown foundation isolated from the others north of the main road with earthen revetments on all sides. It might have been a magazine for heavy ordnance, though the design is different from facilities on Lenger and Sapwtik.

Coastal Battery

The Coastal Battery is found at the end of a well-defined trail 0.23 km (0.14 mi) southwest of the cinderblock nahs. There are several notable features:

Coastal Gun & Bunker — A 15 cm naval gun is found in a large rock and steel bunker on the western slope of the mountain. The gun was manufactured by the British company Armstrong-Whitworth in 1905 and remains in good condition. It was intended to protect against surface incursions from Palikir Pass, a primary barrier reef passage to the west, but it may not have seen much action. The gun had a range of about 7 kilometers (4.3 mi). The bunker is roughly 8 meters by 6 meters with steel I-beams supporting the concrete ceiling and the dirt that is mounded over it. It would have been difficult to identify the feature from the air. There are two ammunition magazines behind the gun with heavy steel doors. A short corridor connects the rear of the bunker with a prominent trench which runs south for roughly 60 meters (196 ft), ending at a large bomb crater.

Rifle Pit — Twenty-five meters (82 ft) east of the gun bunker is a P-shaped rifle pit with rock walls. It may have originally been connected to the trench system mentioned above.

South Point

From the top of the Coastal Battery bunker, a trail runs 0.37 km (0.23 mi) south to the end of the Ridge. Along the way it passes scattered foundations, small water tanks, and several stone rifle pits. Little is known about the structures in this area. Bomb craters are obvious in many places. The path terminates at the mountain’s southernmost point–a narrow fin with steep slopes on both sides.

Rifle Pits on Western Slope

West of the Summit Road, 0.28 km (0.17 mi) north of the Command Post, is a complex of small stone rifle pits. Four rifle pits were investigated (two on either side of the path), with the pair to the south being the most extensive. Undoubtedly, there are many structures of this variety around the mountain’s slopes that have yet to be discovered. The area is lower than its surroundings and tends to be very muddy.

Power Station

Immediately east of the Summit Road, just before it begins to climb to the peak, are the remains of a Japanese power station. The most prominent features are a Yanmar 60 KVA generator and three concrete tanks–two for water that cooled the engines and one for fuel. Though the power station building is no more, the steel roof trusses still lie across the ground.

Summit Area

FSM Telecom has claimed the summit of Dollap, and the steel Japanese searchlight platform (about 5 meters in diameter) now supports one of two cellular phone towers. The views from the top of one of the accessible Telecom structures are spectacular and unobstructed. Just below the knoll is an L-shaped defensive trench with rock walls, probably for the men who manned the light. Above this is a small Japanese monument.

Map Guides >> Sokehs Island >> Sokehs Mountain

By pni-surfclubPosted on January 1, 2013September 1, 2019Posted in birding, camping, hiking & trekking, historical sites, sokehs island, world war sitesTagged 12.7 cm dual purpose guns, 15 cm gun, anti-aircraft battery, birding, bunkers, coastal battery, dollap, fsm, guns, hiking, historical sites, islands, japanese historical sites, micronesia, oceania, pacific, pohndollap, pohnpei, ponape, power station, rifle pits, sokehs, sokehs island, sokehs mountain, south point, trails, tunnels, world war sites